• G Gafà, N Sverzellati, E Bonati, A Chetta, F Franco, E Rabaiotti, M De Filippo, E Marangio, D Figoli, T Meschi, M Zompatori, and C Rossi.
• Sezione di Diagnostica per Immagini, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche, Padiglione Barbieri, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Università degli Studi di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma, Italy.
• Radiol Med. 2012 Sep 1; 117 (6): 968-78.

PurposeThe authors assessed the clinical usefulness of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for monitoring sarcoidosis by comparing changes on HRCT with those on pulmonary function test (PFT) results over time.Materials And MethodsThe baseline and follow-up (after 13 months, range 15-63 months) HRCT scans of 14 consecutive patients with sarcoidosis were reviewed by a single observer. Each follow-up HRCT examination was assessed as stable, improved (when the extent of HRCT findings was reduced compared with baseline) and worsened (when the extent of HRCT findings was increased and/or when HRCT pattern had become fibrotic compared with baseline). Any increase or decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC)≥10% from baseline was considered significant. Changes on HRCT were then compared with those on FVC.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 33 (range 15-63) months, HRCT findings worsened in 8/14 (58%) cases, improved in 3/14 (21%) and remained stable in 3/14 (21%). Agreement between changes on HRCT and FVC was moderate (κ=0.49). In 9/14 (64%) cases, HRCT changes were in line with those on FVC. In 4/5 discordant cases, the worsened HRCT findings were not mirrored by FVC changes.ConclusionsDespite the small size of our study population, our results suggest that HRCT may provide clinicians with additional information about the evolution of sarcoidosis.

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