CT ASSESSMENT OF BRONCHI IN SARCOIDOSIS - ENDOSCOPIC AND PATHOLOGICALCORRELATIONS

PURPOSE: To evaluate the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of bronc hi in patients with sarcoidosis and to correlate CT, endoscopy, and br onchial biopsy findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with sa rcoidosis underwent CT and tracheobronchial endoscopy. CT findings of abnormalities of the bronchial walls and lumina were compared with end oscopic and biopsy findings. RESULTS: CT scans showed bronchial abnorm alities in 39 patients (65%). CT and endoscopic findings were concorda nt in only 35 cases. However, CT showed abnormal lumina in 14 patients and endoscopy showed mucosal thickening in 12 of these 14 patients. C T findings of bronchial abnormalities were associated with the presenc e of bronchial granulomas (P < .0001). CT scans showed that, of the 37 patients with biopsy results of granulomatosis, 84% had thickened bro nchial walls and 35% had luminal abnormalities. Eight CT findings were false-positive, and six were false-negative for the presence of granu lomas. CONCLUSION: Bronchial involvement in sarcoidosis was detected a t CT in 65% of cases. CT can help predict whether bronchial granulomas will be found in cases of sarcoidosis.