Abstract

HIGH RESOLUTION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCORING SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATION INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

*Dr. Amani Abdullah Sebahi and Dr. Haider Qasim Al-Mosawi

ABSTRACT

Objective: To define the prevalence, extent and severity of interstitial lung fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its relationship with the disease duration and ANA specificities. Methods: Twenty-two patients with SSc were submitted to pulmonary high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Lung abnormalities were evaluated according to comparative and semi-quantative scoring that considers both the severity and the extent of fibrotic lesions. Results: Pulmonary HRCT abnormalities were observed in 18/22 (81.8%) of SSc patients. Ground glass only aspects (13.6%), ground glass with variable extents of fibrosis (68.1%)while subpleural cyst is the next common found in 10 pt out of 22(45.5%), the honey combing was least to be seen, noticed in 7 pt out of 22 (31.8%). The distribution of these abnormalities favored the posterior basilar segments of both lungs. HRCT findings were significantly more frequent in those with long duration of disease and those with high antibody anti-Scl70. Conclusions: HRCT is a very useful method for the diagnosis of interstitial lung fibrosis in SSc. Comparative and semi-quantative scoring systems permit to quantify the HRCT findings and to evaluate their relationship with the disease duration and ANA specificities.

Keywords: HRCT, Systemic sclerosis, ILD.