Relapsing Polychondritis Affecting the Lower Respiratory Tract
Jeffrey V. Behar1,
Yo-Won Choi2,
Thomas A. Hartman3,
Nancy B. Allen4 and
H. Page McAdams1
1
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC
27710.
2
Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Hospital, 17 Haengdang-dong,
Sungdong-Ku, Seoul 1333-792, Korea.
3
Department of Radiology, Mayo Medical Institutions, 200 First St. S.E.,
Rochester, MN 55905.
4
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
27710.

View larger version (117K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 1. Relapsing polychondritis in 54-year-old man with dyspnea. CT
scan (soft-tissue window, 6-mm collimation) shows smooth thickening and subtle
increased attenuation of tracheal wall. Note that posterior membranous portion
of trachea (arrow) is not affected.
|
|

View larger version (114K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 2. 45-year-old asymptomatic man. CT scan (soft-tissue window,
2.5-mm collimation) of patient without relapsing polychondritis shows
appearance of normal trachea for comparison. Note smooth, almost imperceptible
wall.
|
|

View larger version (120K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 3A. Relapsing polychondritis in 47-year-old man with dyspnea. CT
scans (soft-tissue window, 5-mm collimation) show marked thickening and
increased attenuation of tracheal (A) and bronchial (B) walls
with focal calcification (arrowheads). Note that posterior membranous
portion of airway walls (arrows) are not affected.
|
|

View larger version (124K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 3B. Relapsing polychondritis in 47-year-old man with dyspnea. CT
scans (soft-tissue window, 5-mm collimation) show marked thickening and
increased attenuation of tracheal (A) and bronchial (B) walls
with focal calcification (arrowheads). Note that posterior membranous
portion of airway walls (arrows) are not affected.
|
|

View larger version (140K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 4. 35-year-old asymptomatic woman.
CT scan (soft-tissue window, 2.5-mm collimation) of patient without
relapsing polychondritis shows appearance of normal main bronchi for
comparison. Note smooth, almost imperceptible walls.
|
|

View larger version (112K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 5. Relapsing polychondritis in 66-year-old man with dyspnea. CT
scan (soft-tissue window, 6-mm collimation) shows nodular thickening and
calcification of distal trachea.
|
|

View larger version (105K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 6A. Relapsing polychondritis in 50-year-old woman. CT scan
(soft-tissue window, 5-mm collimation) obtained at thoracic inlet shows
normal-caliber trachea.
|
|

View larger version (85K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 6B. Relapsing polychondritis in 50-year-old woman. CT scan
(soft-tissue window, 5-mm collimation) obtained at more caudal level shows
mild focal stenosis of intrathoracic trachea.
|
|

View larger version (92K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 7A. Relapsing polychondritis in 48-year-old woman with dyspnea
and pneumonia. (Reprinted with permission from
[11]) Inspiratory CT scan
(lung window, 10-mm collimation) shows thickened anterior cartilaginous
portion of bronchi (arrows) and normal lung parenchyma. Note
narrowing of both main bronchi.
|
|

View larger version (87K):
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 7B. Relapsing polychondritis in 48-year-old woman with dyspnea
and pneumonia. (Reprinted with permission from
[11]) Expiratory CT scan (lung
window, 10-mm collimation) shows complete collapse of left main bronchus and
air trapping in left lung.
|
|

CiteULike
Complore
Connotea
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Technorati What's this?
Copyright © 2002 by the American Roentgen Ray Society.