Drug-associated organizing pneumonia: high-resolution CT findings in 9 patients

J Thorac Imaging. 2006 Mar;21(1):22-6. doi: 10.1097/01.rti.0000203940.05147.7b.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the high-resolution computed tomography appearances of drug-associated organizing pneumonia (OP).

Materials and methods: Nine patients with clinical and biopsy proven drug-associated OP were included in the study. High-resolution computed tomography exams were retrospectively reviewed by 2 observers for the presence, extent, and distribution of parenchymal abnormalities.

Results: The commonest findings consisted of air space consolidation (n = 8) and ground-glass opacification (n = 7). The air space consolidation was bilateral and asymmetric in 7 patients, symmetric in 1 patient and in all cases involved mainly the peribronchial or subpleural regions or both. The ground-glass opacities were predominantly bilateral and asymmetric in 6 patients and unilateral in 1 patient. They had a patchy distribution in 4 patients, were diffuse in 2 patients, and subpleural in 1 patient.

Conclusion: Drug-associated OP most commonly presents with bilateral, asymmetrical air space consolidation in a predominantly peribronchial and subpleural distribution.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / adverse effects
  • Observer Variation
  • Pneumonia / chemically induced
  • Pneumonia / diagnosis*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tetracycline / adverse effects
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Nitrogen Mustard Compounds
  • Tetracycline