Computed Tomography in the Evaluation of the Lesion of the Lung Tissue in Patients with Histiocytosis X

Abstract

The aim. The aim of this study was to estimate possibilities of CT in identification of the lesion in lung parenchyma in patients pulmonary Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis X. Materials and methods. The results of 36 studies of patients with pulmonary histiocytosis X, who underwent a complex functional study of respiratory, CT, and HRCT we analyzed. Results. Restructuring of the lung tissue was common fibrotic changes of all structural units of the lung tissue: fibrosis of the wall of the cysts, pleural fibrosis, especially on paramediastinalsurface. Also revealed peribronchial and perivascular fibrosis, leading to a narrowing of the bronchial lumen and deformation of blood vessels. Another type of lession was the presence of multiple, different-sized cysts. A third option is a progressive transformation of the focus lesions in cysts, merging small cysts into the large ones with formation of paradoxical ventilated cavities. Of the 36 patients, according to the results of complex functional study of respiratory, was distinguished a group of patients with restrictive type of ventilation disorders of 8 (22%) patients, which included 7 men and 1 woman (mean age 24.7 ± 2.35 years). All patients were smokers with a mean duration of smoking 11.8 ± 2.96 years. Conclusion. Conducting a complex morpho-functional examination including complex functional study of respiratory and high resolution computed tomography reveals the worst-case flow of histiocytosis X with restrictive type of lung lesions.