CT findings of pulmonary artery aneurysms during treatment for Behcet's disease

OBJECTIVE, The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CT findings of pul monary artery aneurysms in patients being treated for Behcet's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS, Thirteen patients with Behcet's disease who had a to tal of 46 aneurysms were included in the study. All patients underwent heli cal CT before and after treatment. Both initial and follow-up CT scans were evaluated for location, number, and size of aneurysms and for thrombosis a nd pulmonary parenchyma changes. RESULTS, Thirty-five (76%) of the 46 aneurysms completely disappeared durin g the 3-42 months of treatment (mean, 21 months), and the remaining 11 aneu rysms (24%) became smaller. Both disappearance and regression of aneurysms were preceded by thrombus formation, In 15 initially thrombosed aneurysms ( 33%), the thrombus increased in size during treatment. After treatment, the thrombus regressed and the pulmonary artery aneurysms disappeared, Thirty- one initially nonthrombosed aneurysms (67%) first became thrombosed during treatment, later, the thrombus regressed and the aneurysm decreased in size , Perianeurysmal consolidation and airspace nodules detected in sewn patien ts disappeared in the early stages of treatment. Mosaic attenuation areas w ere seen in eight patients and disappeared in seven (88%) after treatment. CONCLUSION, Pulmonary artery aneurysms in Behcet's disease may become small er or disappear with medical treatment, Mural thrombotic changes may be obs erved during the I-egression of pulmonary artery aneurysms. Helical CT is h elpful in the diagnosis and follow-up of aneurysms and thrombosis in Behcet 's disease.