Reversible amiodarone-induced lung disease: HRCT findings

The aim of this study was to describe thoracic high-resolution computed tom ography (HRCT) findings of reversible amiodarone-induced lung disease (AILD ). The thoracic HRCT of 20 symptomatic patients who were considered as havi ng reversible AILD by the medical staff of our institution were retrospecti vely reviewed. The patient-selection criteria used were the development of new respiratory symptoms while receiving amiodarone, the exclusion of other respiratory and cardiac diseases, and the decrease of both respiratory sym ptoms and radiological abnormalities after cessation of amiodarone and cort icotherapy. The CT data recorded were those usually sought infiltrative lun g diseases. The radiological findings using chest film (n = 20) and HRCT (n = 4) follow-up was noted. All patients had ground-glass opacities, associa ted with consolidations (n = 4), thin intralobular reticulations (n = 5), o r both (n = 11), with a subpleural (n = 18) or central (n = 2) location. Ei ght patients had high-density areas and 13 had pleural thickening (n = 13). Bronchial abnormalities included dilation (n = 16) and wall thickening (n = 19). After therapeutic management, the radiological follow-up showed comp lete (n = 17) or incomplete (n = 3) improvement. Ground-glass opacities ass ociated with thin intralobular reticulations and/or subpleural consolidatio ns and bronchial abnormalities are common HRCT findings in reversible AILD.