Current problems in diagnostic radiology
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Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) comprise several immunologic systemic disorders, each of which associated with a particular set of clinical manifestations and autoimmune profile. CTDs may cause numerous thoracic abnormalities, which vary in frequency and pattern according to the underlying disorder. The CTDs that most commonly involve the respiratory system are progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and mixed connective tissue disease. ⋯ The most important thoracic manifestations of CTDs are interstitial lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension, with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia being the most common pattern of interstitial lung disease. High-resolution computed tomography is a valuable tool in the initial evaluation and follow-up of patients with CTDs. As such, general knowledge of the most common high-resolution computed tomographic features of CTD-related lung disease allows the radiologist to contribute to better patient management.
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Curr Probl Diagn Radiol · Sep 2014
ReviewOphthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases--part 2: metabolic, infections, granulomatoses, demyelination, and skeletal dysplasias.
The orbit and globe can be secondarily involved in various systemic diseases. These range from tumor and tumorlike conditions, metabolic, infective, inflammatory, granulomatous demyelinating diseases, and skeletal dysplasias. ⋯ As the imaging appearances of various systemic diseases tend to overlap, we also introduce a list of pattern-based systemic differential diagnoses for commonly encountered orbital imaging findings. Awareness of the imaging appearances of the various ophthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases can help a radiologist to suggest the most appropriate differential diagnosis to guide further workup and facilitate correct treatment.
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Curr Probl Diagn Radiol · Sep 2014
Incidence of nonconfounded post-computed tomography acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with stable renal function receiving intravenous iodinated contrast material.
The purpose of our investigation was to determine the frequency of proximate acute and chronic confounding risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) in a cohort of adult hospitalized patients with stable renal function who developed AKI following an intravenous (IV) contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination. ⋯ Nonconfounded post-CT AKI is rare in hospitalized adults with stable renal function who have been exposed to IV low- or iso-osmolality iodinated contrast material.
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Curr Probl Diagn Radiol · Jul 2014
ReviewOphthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases--part 1: phakomatoses, hematologic malignancies, metastases, and histiocytosis.
The orbit can be secondarily involved in various systemic conditions. The ophthalmic involvement is often the first clue to the presence of an underlying systemic condition. ⋯ In the first part of the article, we provide an overview of systemic diseases affecting the orbit, briefly discuss the modalities for orbital imaging, and discuss the imaging appearances of ophthalmic involvement in (1) phakomatoses, (2) hematologic malignancies, (3) metastases, and (4) histiocytosis. At the end of the 2-part article, we discuss a pattern-based approach and differential diagnosis of orbital lesions in systemic diseases.
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Curr Probl Diagn Radiol · May 2014
ReviewCystic interstitial lung diseases: recognizing the common and uncommon entities.
Cystic lung diseases present a considerable diagnostic challenge because they are less frequently encountered in clinical practice and high-resolution computed tomography findings are often similar in many of these diseases. Here, we review the high-resolution computed tomography findings of cystic lung diseases and their mimics and provide a systematic approach to their diagnosis. Specific diseases that are discussed include pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, and light chain deposition disease.