CT appearance of lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphyangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare condition characterized by proliferation of smooth muscle throughout the lung The authors characterize the radiographic morphology of LAM in 10 patients who had pathologically confirmed disease. Chest radiographs and CT scans of 10 female patients with pathologically proved LAM were compared. Correlation was made with pulmonary function tests when available. Chest radiographs revealed normal to increased lung volumes with a diffuse, fine reticular pattern interspersed with cystic lucencies. On CT, the most striking abnormality was a uniform replacement of lung by cysts of varying size from 2 to 30 mm in diameter