Non-specific interstitial pneumonia: findings on sequential CT scans of nine patients
- aDepartment of Radiology, National Kinki Chuo Hospital for Chest Disease, 1180 Nagasone-cho, Sakai City, Osaka 591-8555, Japan, bDepartment of Internal Medicine, cDepartment of Pathology
- Dr M Akira
- Received 23 November 1999
- Revision requested 31 January 2000
- Revised 31 May 2000
- Accepted 22 June 2000
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to describe findings on sequential high resolution computed tomographic (CT) scans of nine patients with non-specific interstitial pneumonia.
METHODS Thin section CT scans of nine patients with pathologically proven non-specific interstitial pneumonia were evaluated retrospectively. All patients underwent sequential CT scanning (mean follow up 3.1 years (range 1–8)).
RESULTS The predominant finding on the initial CT scans in seven patients was patchy areas of ground glass opacity in both the central and peripheral lung, with (n = 5) or without (n = 2) irregular areas of consolidation. In another two patients areas of consolidation in both the central and peripheral lung were seen as the predominant abnormality. The initial parenchymal abnormalities had resolved completely in four patients with predominant ground glass opacity without bronchiolectasis. Some of the bronchiectasis and bronchiolectasis resolved. In two patients bronchiectasis and bronchiolectasis occurred at one year and two years of follow up, respectively. In two patients with predominant consolidation the consolidation decreased but persisted, and in one patient the consolidation evolved into honeycombing. In the other patient bronchiectasis progressed over the course of seven years, forming varicoid bronchiectasis.
CONCLUSION Patients with non-specific interstitial pneumonia may recover completely after treatment with corticosteroids, but as many as half of these patients will have persistent pulmonary abnormalities on CT scans including bronchiectasis and honeycomb lung.
