High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) for Evaluation of Pulmonary Manifestations in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract

Background: The systemic immune system afflictions can reason very a couple of pneumonic parenchymal, vascular, aviation route, and pleural anomalies. The highlight thoracic signs of those afflictions are incited through the basic immune system prepare. Aim of the Work: Evaluation of the radiological findings on HRCT of the lung in patients with autoimmune diseases was the aim of this research Methods: This retrospective cross- sectional research was conducted on 25 cases (18 female and 7 male) ranging from 20-80 years old with autoimmune diseases proved by laboratory and clinical finding attending Tanta university Hospitals. Our patients were referred from chest department to Radiology department (CT units) at Tanta University Hospitals. The period of this research was from May 2020 to May 2021. Results: Chest complications are common among autoimmune patients, the most frequent chest manifestations were fatigue followed by dyspnea representing 72% and 60% respectively,  40% of patients were presented with cough, The presence of clubbing and weight loss in autoimmune individuals with chest manifestations is frequent representing about (24% and 16%) respectively. Conclusion: For evaluation of patients with connective tissue diseases of chest manifestations (pain, shortness of breath, cough), HRCT is the imaging technique of choice), According to HRCT, ground glass opacities was the most prevalent chest findings representing 56%, followed by consolidation and bronchiectasis representing 28% and lastly pericardial effusion represents 4%.