PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics of the bronchiectasis in diffuse panbronchiolitis using HRCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 12 HRCT scans and two bronchography of 12 patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis(DPB). According to Akira et al., DPB was classified into four types: small nodules around the end of bronchovascular branchings(CT type I), small nodules in the centrilobular area connected with small branching linear opacities(CT type II), nodules accompanied by ring-shaped or small ductal opacities connected to proximal bronchovascular bundles(CT type III), large cystic opacities accompanied by dilated proximal bronchi(CT type IV). We compared the type and the extent of bronchiectasis, CTtypes of DPB, and pulmonary function test. RESULTS: Bronchiectasis was defined in 12 cases with the tubular type predominantly involving small and medium-sized bronchi. These bronchiectasis involved the proximal bronchi of the centrilobular lesions of DPB. Among eight cases of advanced DPB(CT type III & IV) which extended to both upper lobes, seven showed tubular bronchiectasis at the same area. Cystic bronchiectasis was shown in eight cases predominantly involving right middle lobe(n=7). There was no linear correlation between the values of pulmonary function test and CTtypes of DPB. CONCLUSION: Characteristic feature of the bronchiectasis in DPB is the tubular ectasis predominantly involving the small and medium-sized bronchi. DPB with associated tubular bronchiectasis can involve whole lung field in advanced cases. HRCT is useful not only to depict the findings of DPB but also to demonstrate the extent of lesion.
Bronchi ; Bronchiectasis* ; Bronchography ; Humans ; Lung ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies