RETINOIC ACID SYNDROME - PULMONARY COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY (CT) FINDINGS

We report the pulmonary computed tomography (CT) findings in three pat ients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia who developed the retinoic ac id syndrome following all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy. The most consistent CT findings were small, irregular peripheral nodules in th e lung fields and pleural effusions. Two of the patients also showed e vidence of reticular and ground glass shadowing as well as abnormal an terior mediastinal soft tissue. We report for the first time an associ ation between ATRA and pneumothorax. We conclude that routine CT scann ing may provide a sensitive means of early detection or monitoring of the syndrome and thereby may facilitate its management.