Pulmonary changes findings in patients with systemic sclerosis by high resolution computed tomography

Abstract

This study was done to assess the ability of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in detecting the early signs of pulmonary involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The chest in ten patients with established diagnosis of SSc according to American College of Rheumatology criteria for classification of systemic sclerosis-1980 were examined by conventional chest x-ray (CXR) at Tikrit teaching hospital,(2007-2008) . After that, each patient was subjected to chest HRCT. The finding in HRCT imaging seen in nine patients (90%), while only five patients (50%) showed an abnormality on conventional CXR suggestive of an interstitial lung disease and/or chronic pulmonary fibrosis. The HCRT findings were distributed among the reticular and nodular structures (70%), decreased opacity (70%) and other accompanying lesions seen in (60%) of patients. No one of the examined group showed a sign of increased opacity which include the sign of ground glass appearance. HRCT scanner considered a worthfull imaging modality in all patients with SSc, especially at an early stage of the disease as the management of the pulmonary complication in such patients is more effective when applied early