Newly diagnosed cystic fibrosis in adults: Pattern and distribution of bronchiectasis in 12 cases

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the type and distribution o f bronchiectasis at computed tomography (CT) in adults with recently diagno sed cystic fibrosis, METHODS: The CT examinations of 12 consecutive patients diagnosed with cyst ic fibrosis in adulthood (six male, six female; age range at diagnosis 25-6 3 years) were analysed retrospectively using a modified Bhalla scoring syst em, Bronchiectasis was catergorized by Reid type and by location within the affected lobe (peripheral, central or mixed), RESULTS: Bronchiectasis was identified in 70 of 71 lobes, Two or more bronc hopulmonary segments were involved in 67 of 71 lobes, The majority of lobes demonstrated cylindrical bronchiectasis as the predominant type (n = 51), with varicose (n = 11) and cystic (n = 8) less commonly seen. Bronchiectasi s was mainly central in 16 lobes, and both central and peripheral in 54 lob es, The severity of bronchial dilatation was greatest for the upper lobes ( mean score, 1.75 right, 1.58 left) compared with the middle lobe/lingula (m ean score, 1.42 right, 1.17 left) and lower lobes (mean score, 1.09 right, 1.17 left), CONCLUSION: Bronchiectasis in patients with cystic fibrosis diagnosed in ad ulthood is usually widespread, predominantly cylindrical, and is more sever e in the upper lobes, The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis should be considered in adults with 'idiopathic' bronchiectasis showing these features on CT.