HIGH-RESOLUTION CT (HRCT) OF THE LUNG IN WEGENERS GRANULOMATOSIS

HRCT of the lung and plain chest X-ray were performed to reveal pulmon ary manifestation in primary diagnostics or reevaluation of 35 patient s with Wegener's granulomatosis. Pleural and parenchymal pathology was detected in chest X-ray of 20 (57 %) and in HRCT of 30 (85,7 %) patie nts. Granulomas with and without cavitations and with smooth or spicul ated margins were deemed pathognomonic. Nonspecific findings were infi ltrates, thickened interlobular septae and fibrotic changes of parench yma and pleura. Ground glass opacities, traction bronchiectasis and sm all cysts were only visible on HRCT. As expected HRCT proved to be mor e sensitive in detecting subtle lung alterations than plain film chest X-ray. It helps to differentiate acute inflammatory and thus potentia lly curable processes from chronic fibrotic changes in Wegener's granu lomatosis.