High-Resolution CT Findings of Re-Expansion Pulmonary Edema.
10.3348/kjr.2010.11.2.164
- Author:
Jun Hyun BAIK
1
;
Myeong Im AHN
;
Young Ha PARK
;
Seog Hee PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Computed tomography (CT), high-resolution;
Lung, pulmonary edema, re-expansion;
Pneumothorax;
Thoracentesis
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Aged;
Drainage;
Female;
Humans;
Lung/radiography;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Observer Variation;
Pneumothorax/complications/therapy;
Pulmonary Edema/complications/*radiography;
Retrospective Studies;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods;
Young Adult
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2010;11(2):164-168
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To describe the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE) following a thoracentesis for a spontaneous pneumothorax. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HRCT scans from 43 patients who developed REPE immediately after a thoracentesis for treatment of pneumothorax were retrospectively analyzed. The study group consisted of 41 men and two women with a mean age of 34 years. The average time interval between insertion of the drainage tube and HRCT was 8.5 hours (range, 1-24 hours). The patterns and distribution of the lung lesions were analyzed and were assigned one of the following classifications: consolidation, ground-glass opacity (GGO), intralobular interstitial thickening, interlobular septal thickening, thickening of bronchovascular bundles, and nodules. The presence of pleural effusion and contralateral lung involvement was also assessed. RESULTS: Patchy areas of GGO were observed in all 43 patients examined. Consolidation was noted in 22 patients (51%). The geographic distribution of GGO and consolidation was noted in 25 patients (58%). Interlobular septal thickening and intralobular interstitial thickening was noted in 28 patients (65%), respectively. Bronchovascular bundle thickening was seen in 13 patients (30%), whereas ill-defined centrilobular GGO nodules were observed in five patients (12%). The lesions were predominantly peripheral in 38 patients (88%). Of these lesions, gravity-dependent distribution was noted in 23 cases (53%). Bilateral lung involvement was noted in four patients (9%), and a small amount of pleural effusion was seen in seven patients (16%). CONCLUSION: The HRCT findings of REPE were peripheral patchy areas of GGO that were frequently combined with consolidation as well as interlobular septal and intralobular interstitial thickening.
