Radiology, Vol 194, 419-423, Copyright © 1995 by Radiological Society of North America
CT assessment of bronchi in sarcoidosis: endoscopic and pathologic correlations
F Lenique, MW Brauner, P Grenier, JP Battesti, A Loiseau and D Valeyre
Department of Radiology, Hopital Avicenne et Universite Paris XIII, Bobigney, France.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of bronchi in
patients with sarcoidosis and to correlate CT, endoscopy, and bronchial
biopsy findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with sarcoidosis
underwent CT and tracheobronchial endoscopy. CT findings of abnormalities
of the bronchial walls and lumina were compared with endoscopic and biopsy
findings. RESULTS: CT scans showed bronchial abnormalities in 39 patients
(65%). CT and endoscopic findings were concordant in only 35 cases.
However, CT showed abnormal lumina in 14 patients and endoscopy showed
mucosal thickening in 12 of these 14 patients. CT findings of bronchial
abnormalities were associated with the presence of bronchial granulomas (P
< .0001). CT scans showed that, of the 37 patients with biopsy results
of granulomatosis, 84% had thickened bronchial walls and 35% had luminal
abnormalities. Eight CT findings were false-positive, and six were
false-negative for the presence of granulomas. CONCLUSION: Bronchial
involvement in sarcoidosis was detected at CT in 65% of cases. CT can help
predict whether bronchial granulomas will be found in cases of sarcoidosis.
