PULMONARY ALVEOLAR PROTEINOSIS - HIGH-RESOLUTION CT, CHEST RADIOGRAPHIC, AND FUNCTIONAL CORRELATIONS

Study objective: To determine whether a correlation exists between pul monary function and both frontal chest radiographs and high-resolution chest CT findings in patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PA P). Design: Retrospective review of radiographic and clinical data. Se tting: Tertiary referral hospital. Patients: Seven patients with PAP w ere studied on 25 occasions using high-resolution chest CT (n = 21), f rontal chest radiographs (n = 19), and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) (n = 25). Measurements and results: Visual estimates of the extent, d egree, and overall severity of parenchymal abnormalities were determin ed for plain radiographs and high-resolution chest CT, and were correl ated with PFTs. With high-resolution CT, the extent and severity of gr ound-glass opacity correlated significantly with the presence of a res trictive ventilatory defect, reduced diffusing capacity, and hypoxemia . Chest radiographic findings also correlated significantly with restr ictive ventilatory defect, diffusing capacity, and hypoxemia. Conclusi on: In patients with PAP, although high-resolution CT correlates more closely with pulmonary function, plain radiographs should be sufficien t for follow-up.