Thoracic high-resolution computed tomography scans (HRCT) of 17 patients
with inflammatory muscle disorders (IMD) and positive Jo1 antibodies
were retrospectively reviewed regarding presence, extension, and
distribution of pathological findings. Abnormal findings were found in
14 (82.3%) patients. The predominant CT abnormality was ground glass
attenuation, which was present in seven patients (41.1%), having a
bilateral and diffuse distribution. In general, lesions tended to appear
in the lower lobes and more specifically in the lung bases. lnterlobular
septal thickening was found in six patients (35.3%); it was seen in the
upper and lower lobes with peripheral distribution and bilateral
localization in five out of six patients. Bronchiectases, reticular
opacities, and honeycombing were found in six patients (35.3%). Air
space consolidation was seen in about 17% of the patients. Lung
involvement is a frequent feature of IMD patients with positive Jo1
antibodies and its most common radiological pattern is that of
nonspecific interstitial pneumonia. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All
rights reserved