Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2007; 28(4): 389-397
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-985611
Copyright © 2007 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Computed Tomographic Imaging in Connective Tissue Diseases

Anand Devaraj1 , Athol U. Wells2 , David M. Hansell1
  • 1Department of Radiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
  • 2Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
03 September 2007 (online)

ABSTRACT

The connective tissue diseases are a group of autoimmune mediated disorders characterized by multiorgan damage. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) plays an important role in identifying patients with respiratory involvement. Although there is some overlap, typical HRCT appearances are increasingly recognized for each of the major connective tissue diseases and are described in detail in this review (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease). The clinical utility of HRCT is discussed with respect to the detection of disease, diagnosis, staging of disease severity, prognostic evaluation, and monitoring of disease progression. The difficult problem of establishing the clinical significance of CT abnormalities is also addressed.

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David M HansellM.D. 

Department of Radiology, Royal Brompton Hospital

Sydney St., London, SW3 6NP, UK

Email: D.Hansell@rbht.nhs.uk

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