Superior venacaval obstruction: the commonest radiographic abnormality in 12 Egyptian patients with behcet's disease

ABSTRACT

Behcet's disease is characterized clinically by the presence of a diagnostic triad of stomatitis, genital ulceration and uveitis, multiple other organ systems may be imvolved. Prognosis is related to the presence of central nervous system, vascular or intestinal involvement. This report describes the clinical and radiological findings in 12 Egyptian patients with Behcet's disease. Venous involvement was frequent. The most common radiographic abnormality noted was superior vena cava obstruction occurring in 9 cases. CT with contrast enhanacement is optimum for its diagnosis. Other vascular abnormalities included inferior venal cava obstruction once pulmonary artery aneurysms in 2 cases. Pulmonary affection consisted of pulmonary nodules, central or peripheral and pleural effusion, the latter is probably more related to SVC obstruction. Small intestinal abnormalities included ulcers, narrowing, marginal irregularities, fistulae and separation of bowel loops. These changes were ore aggressive in the ileum near its terminal part. Pseudocystic type of artirities was seen once. The different radiographic abnormalities were mentioned and their possible a etiology discussed