Clinical and CT manifestations of the chest and abdomen lymphangioleiomyomatosis / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the clinical and CT manifestations of the chest and abdomen lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Methods The clinical and CT manifestations of 13 patients with LAM proved histopathologically were reviewed retrospectively.Results Twelve patients onset with intrapulmonary manifestations all had progressive dyspnea, other symptoms included pneumothorax of recurrent attacks, chest distress, hemoptysis, cough, chylothorax and so on. During the course of disease, 12 patients had no extrapulmonary symptoms, abdominal great goiter was found unintentionally in the rest one without any intrapulmonary symptoms. Pectoral CT manifestations included sporadic or asystematic cysts in pulmones with size of 2-20 mm, and most had thin and clear capsule wall. The lung parenchyma among cysts was mostly normal. Four patients had pneumatocele, 2 had pleural effusion. Abdominal CT was performed in 10 patients and 7 had abnormal findings: renal angiolipoleiomyoma (ALL) in 3 including one had retroperitoneal multiple lymphangiomyomas and effussion and seroperitoneum, another 2 had multiple liver ALL and spleen accretion. The rest 4 patients included retroperitoneal lymphadenectasis in 2, seroperitoneum in one, as well as retroperitoneal lump and spleen accretion in one patient.Conclusion Pectoral and abdominal symptoms in LAM are not specific, but the CT manifestations somehow specific, which are helpful to the identification and early diagnosis of LAM.