[Pulmonary computed tomography in children with cystic fibrosis in Asturias (Spain)]. / Tomografía computarizada pulmonar en niños con fibrosis quística en Asturias.

INTRODUCTION: The advent of computed tomography (CT) has allowed the early detection of pathological changes in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Description of the early pathological changes and distribution of bronchiectasis in children with CF is limited, because most studies have been performed in older children and adults with well-established lung disease. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution pattern of this disease in Asturius. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a retrospective study of the medical records and CT scans of patients followed up in our Cystic Fibrosis Unit. CT scans were scored by two radiologists according to Bhalla and Nathanson scores. Pathological changes were analyzed and correlated with clinical data and pulmonary function tests. RESULTS: The 41 CT reviewed contained between 10 and 47 slices, with a median of 16. The total number of slices was 758, of which 606 (79.95%) were considered acceptable and 152 were considered unacceptable by the radiologists. The most frequent lesions found were bronchiectasis (78.38%), followed by mucous plugs (37.84%). The most frequently affected bronchopulmonary segments were S1 and S2 in the right lung. Statistically significant correlations were found between Bhalla and Nathanson scores and disease duration. No statistically significant correlations were found between Bhalla and Nathanson scores and pulmonary function tests. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent lesions in our environment were bronchiectasis followed by mucous plugs. The upper right lobe was the first to be affected, which correlates with findings in most published studies.

Tomografía computarizada pulmonar en niños con fibrosis quística en Asturias / Pulmonary computed tomography in children with cystic fibrosis in Asturias (Spain)

Introducción: La aparición de la tomografía computarizada (TC) ha permitido la detección precoz de cambios patológicos en los pacientes con fibrosis quística. Hay poca descripción de los cambios patológicos iniciales y de la distribución de las bronquiectasias en niños pequeños con fibrosis quística, ya que la mayoría de los estudios se centran en grupos de niños mayores y adultos, con la enfermedad pulmonar bien desarrollada. El objetivo fundamental de nuestro estudio es describir el patrón de distribución de la enfermedad en Asturias. Material y método Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de las historias clínicas y las TC de pacientes pediátricos seguidos en nuestra Unidad de Fibrosis Quística. Las TC fueron evaluadas por dos radiólogos según las escalas de Bhalla y Nathanson, y se realizó un análisis de los hallazgos patológicos, correlacionándolos con datos clínicos y espirometrías. Resultados: Las 41 TC realizadas constaban de entre 10 y 47 cortes, con una mediana de 16. El total de cortes realizados fue de 758, de los que los radiólogos consideraron que 606 (79,95 %) eran valorables, y 152 (20,05 %), no. Las lesiones halladas con más frecuencia fueron bronquiectasias (78,38 %), seguidas de tapones de moco (37,84 %). Los segmentos broncopulmonares afectados predominantemente fueron el S1 y S2 derechos. Se encontraron correlaciones estadísticamente significativas entre las escalas de Bhalla y Nathanson y el tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad. No se encontraron correlaciones estadísticamente significativas entre las escalas de Bhalla y Nathanson y las pruebas de función pulmonar. Conclusiones: Las lesiones predominantes fueron bronquiectasias y tapones de moco. El lóbulo superior derecho ha sido el primero en afectarse evolutivamente, lo que coincide con la mayoría de la literatura médica

Introduction: The advent of computed tomography (CT) has allowed the early detection of pathological changes in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Description of the early pathological changes and distribution of bronchiectasis in children with CF is limited, because most studies have been performed in older children and adults with well-established lung disease. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution pattern of this disease in Asturius. Material and method We performed a retrospective study of the medical records and CT scans of patients followed up in our Cystic Fibrosis Unit. CT scans were scored by two radiologists according to Bhalla and Nathanson scores. Pathological changes were analyzed and correlated with clinical data and pulmonary function tests. Results: The 41 CT reviewed contained between 10 and 47 slices, with a median of 16. The total number of slices was 758, of which 606 (79.95 %) were considered acceptable and 152 were considered unacceptable by the radiologists. The most frequent lesions found were bronchiectasis (78.38%), followed by mucous plugs (37.84 %). The most frequently affected bronchopulmonary segments were S1 and S2 in the right lung. Statistically significant correlations were found between Bhalla and Nathanson scores and disease duration. No statistically significant correlations were found between Bhalla and Nathanson scores and pulmonary function tests. Conclusions: The most frequent lesions in our environment were bronchiectasis followed by mucous plugs. The upper right lobe was the first to be affected, which correlates with findings in most published studies

[Value of computerized tomography in the diagnosis of complicated pneumoconiosis in coal miners]. / Valor de la tomografía computarizada en el diagnóstico de neumoconiosis complicada de mineros del carbón.

To assess the value of computed tomography (CT) scanning for the diagnosis of complicated pneumoconiosis, or progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), we conducted a prospective study of 127 subjects who had worked in coal mines for at least 15 years. Sixty-two suffered simple pneumoconiosis (nodular profusion > or = 1/1 under the ILO-80 international classification system) visible on simple chest films. None were diagnosed of PMF on the basis of X-ray evidence. CT led to a diagnosis of PMF in 8 cases (6.3%; CI 95%, 2.68-11.82). PMF was category A in all 8; all of them had had chest film evidence of simple pneumoconiosis. Six (75% of these patients had q and/or r nodulation; in 5 (62.5%) the nodules tended to confluence. These figures were significantly higher (p < 0.05, Fisher's test) than in the group of patients with no PMF, among whom 54 (45.3%) had SP, 2 (1.68%) had q and or r nodulation and 3 (2.52%) tended to confluence. We observed no differences in FVC, FEV1, the FEV1/FVC ratio or DLCO between the PMF and non PMF groups. Our results suggest that CT scans can be useful for diagnosing PMF in some cases in which it is suspected bases on chest X-ray findings (simple pneumoconiosis, q and/or r nodulation, tendency to confluence).