HRCT LUNG FINDINGS IN POST CHEMOTHERAPY PATIENTS - EMERGING CHALLENGE FOR RADIOLOGISTS

Objective: To characterize, diagnose and to differentiate various HRCT manifestations of lung abnormalities in post chemotherapy patients. Methodology: This was a retrospective study of 50 patients conducted at Radiology department of Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar. Duration of study was 6months i.e from April 2013 to September 2013. Patients were investigated using 128-slice Multidetector Computed tomography (MDCT) scanner in the Radiology department of Rehman Medical Institute Peshawar.0.5mm reconstructed images in lung window and 3mm images in mediastinal window were viewed on workstation in axial, coronal and sagittal planes. The data was processed using Microsoft excel 2007. Results: A total of 50 patients were included. Age of the patients ranged from 6 to 70 years with a mean age of 35 years. In our study, we found five radiologic patterns on CT scan; (1)non-specific ground-glass attenuation 17(34%),(2) patchy distribution of ground-glass attenuation accompanied by interlobular septal thickening 7(14%), (3)multifocal areas of airspace consolidation 7(14%),(4)extensive bilateral ground-glass attenuation or airspace consolidations with traction bronchiectasis 4(8%), and (5) nodules of variable sizes randomly distributed in both lungs 15(30%). Conclusion: The most common pattern was found to be patchy areas of ground-glass attenuation. Pulmonary diseases that are induced by chemotherapy represent particular challenges for radiologists due to non-specific and atypical imaging features