Abstract

SPINA, Juan Carlos et al. Diffuse interstitial diseases: are all cysts real cysts?. Rev. argent. radiol. [online]. 2010, vol.74, n.1, pp.47-54. ISSN 1852-9992.

Objective: To demonstrate that axial sections on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) are insufficient for an accurate examination of diffuse interstitial lung diseases. To further show that minimum intensity projection (MinIP) increases diagnosis specificity. Material and methods: Preliminary studies reporting small subpleural cysts were used to select 39 HRCT from 33 patients with confirmed collagen diseases and 6 patients with idiopathic interstitial disease. Patients were reexamined between october 2008 and june 2009. A 16-channel Philips Brillance multislice CT scanner was used. Sections were 1 mm thick de apices a bases. Patients were examined using the common technique, including the MinIP for axial, sagittal and coronal sections, with parenchymal rotation. Cystic areas were carefully examined. Spiral sections were also performed. Results: Of 20 HRCT depicting subpleural cysts with the conventional technique, 14 (70%) were bronchiolectases. In 12 cases, images were all bronchiolectases; in the other 2, a prevalence of bronchiolectases and isolated cysts were seen. Real cysts could be confirmed in 6 cases (30%), all of which presented usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP). The HRCT positive predictive value (PPV) for cyst detection was 30% (95% CI 0.13-0.54). Conclusions: Interstitial diseases reports focus on performing axial sections on HRCT, and cyst detection is pivotal to differentiate UIP from NINE. This study reveals that the use of MinIP with parenchymal rotation redefines 70% of cysts as bronchiolectases. Given the key role of HRCT in the examination of interstitial diseases, it is important to carry out a prospective follow-up study with a larger number of cases, in order to confirm whether the UIP is characterized by real cysts or by cysts redefined as bronchiolectases.

Keywords : Interstitiopathy; Cysts; Bronchialectases; MinIP.

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