Discussion
Diagnosis With Brief Discussion
- Diagnosis
- Organizing pneumonia associated with polymyositis
- Radiologic Findings
- Initial HRCT show peribrochovascular and subpleural consolidation in both lungs (both mid to lower lung zone predominance), which are suggestive of interstitial lung disease such as cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. Left thigh MRI including enhancement shows multifocal patchy T2-high signal intensity lesions with variable enhancement in rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and intermedius muscles. These findings are suggestive of inflammatory myopathy.
Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed pneumonia pattern and possibility of bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia. Muscle biopsy from left thigh was consistent with inflammatory myopathy. On laboratory finding, muscle enzyme and anti Jo-1 antibody level were elevated.
After 1-month-treatment with steroid and immunosuppressive agents, dyspnea and muscle enzyme elevation were improved. Follow up chest radiograph and CT showed decreased extent of consolidation in both lungs.
- Brief Review
- Pulmonary complications occur in more than 40% of patients. Common complications include ILD, aspiration, pneumonia, and drug-induced lung diseases. It is estimated that 35-40% of patients with PM-DM develop ILD during the course of their disease. The pattern of involvement is most commonly NSIP. Other histologic patterns are OP, UIP and DAD. HRCT findings of PM-DM include ground-glass opacity, findings of fibrosis (honeycombing is uncommon), and consolidation. In more than 90% of patients, the findings involved mainly the lower lobes.
- References
- High resolution CT of the lung, 5th edition, 268-270.
- Keywords
- Lung, Connective tissue diseases, Polymyositis,