Sj. Howling et al., THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BRONCHIAL DILATATION ON CT IN PATIENTS WITH ADULT-RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS-SYNDROME, Clinical Radiology, 53(2), 1998, pp. 105-109
Aims: Irreversible bronchial dilatation on computed tomography (CT) is
seen in patients with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis whereas reversi
ble dilatation of the bronchi is a feature of many conditions, The aim
of this study was to determine whether airways dilatation, which is a
frequent finding in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is re
versible and to establish whether persistent airways dilatation is acc
ompanied by other CT signs of established interstitial fibrosis, Metho
d: Thin section CT scans of 16 patients with ARDS were analysed at a l
obar level in the acute phase of the disease and at follow-up (median
interval 6.3 months) for the presence and extent of a ground-glass pat
tern, reticular or linear opacities and the presence or absence of bro
nchial dilatation, Results: 95 out of 96 (99%) lobes on the initial CT
scan showed ground-glass pattern, Airway dilatation was present in 65
of 95 (68%) of these lobes, On follow-up CT the airways remained dila
ted in 60 of 65 (92%) lobes and, in the majority of these, 53 of 60 (8
8%), a reticular and linear pattern with associated distortion had dev
eloped, A coexisting ground-glass pattern was present in 12 of 60 (20%
) lobes on follow-up CT, but was the sole residual abnormality in only
one lobe, Conclusion: In patients with ARDS, dilatation of the airway
s within areas of ground-glass pattern is a frequent observation in th
e acute phase of the condition and tends to persist at follow-up, usua
lly accompanied by the CT features of supervening pulmonary fibrosis.