Thin-section high resolution computed tomography of pulmonary manifestations of progressive systemic sclerosis

To identify characteristic thin-section high resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) findings, HRCT scans of nine patients with progressive systemic sclerosis were reviewed and correlated with pathology. Common HRCT findings included parenchymal honeycombing, ground glass opacities, bronchiolectasis, irregularity of pulmonary vessels, and pleural irregularity. The individual cysts in parenchymal honeycombing were less than 5 mm in all patients and were less than 3 mm in most patients. In five of seven patients with follow-up HRCT scans, there was HRCT evidence of disease progression. (author)