Computed tomography in the assessment of causes of restrictive lung disorders in patients with pulmonary histiocytosis X
Objective: to estimate the capabilities of computed tomogra­phy (CT) in revealing the anatomic causes of restrictive lung changes in patients with pulmonary histiocytosis X. Subject and methods. The results of examining 36 patients with pulmonary histiocytosis X, who underwent comprehensive functional study of external respiration (CRSER), CT, and high-performance CT (HPCT), were analyzed. Results. According to the results of CRSER, the authors iden­tified a group of patients with restrictive ventilation disorders, which included 7 men and 1 woman. The most common cause of restrictive disorders was generalized fibrous changes in lung tis­sue, which fails to result in its expansion. Multiple cysts were another cause of restrictive disorders in 2 patients. Fusion of indi­vidual cysts into large ones and the formation of a great number of paradoxically ventilated cysts were the third cause of restrictive disorders in pulmonary histiocytosis X, which was identified dur­ing HPCT. Conclusion. Comprehensive morphofunctional examination involving CRSER and high-resolution CT can reveal the unfavor­able course of pulmonary histiocytosis X with the restrictive type of lesion.