Imaging
Those who care for patients with pulmonary, critical care or sleep disorders rely heavily on chest radiology and pathology to determine diagnoses. The Southwest Journal of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep publishes case-based articles with characteristic chest imaging and related pathology.
The editor of this section will oversee and coordinate the publication of a core of the most important chest imaging topics. In doing so, they encourage the submission of unsolicited manuscripts. It cannot be overemphasized that both radiologic and pathologic images must be of excellent quality. As a rule, 600 DPI is sufficient for radiographic and pathologic images. Taking pictures of plain chest radiographs and CT scans with a digital camera is strongly discouraged. The figures should be cited in the text and numbered consecutively. The stain used for pathology specimens and magnification should be mentioned in the figure legend. Those who care for patients with pulmonary, critical care or sleep disorders rely heavily on chest radiology and pathology to determine diagnoses. The Southwest Journal of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep publishes case-based articles with characteristic chest imaging and related pathology. The editor of this section will oversee and coordinate the publication of a core of the most important chest imaging topics. In doing so, they encourage the submission of unsolicited manuscripts. It cannot be overemphasized that both radiologic and pathologic images must be of excellent quality. As a rule, 600 DPI is sufficient for radiographic and pathologic images. Taking pictures of plain chest radiographs and CT scans with a digital camera is strongly discouraged. The figures should be cited in the text and numbered consecutively. The stain used for pathology specimens and magnification should be mentioned in the figure legend.
Medical Image of the Week: Sarcoidosis
Figure 1. Stage 2 radiographic sarcoidosis with lymphadenopathy (arrows) on CXR (A), micronodular and macronodular infiltrates with beading along the fissure and bronchovascular bundles are more easily seen on CT (B), multiple lung granulomas of various sizes and stages of maturity on transbronchial biopsy (C).
A 42 year old African-American man from Indianapolis presented with cough and skin lesions. ACE level was elevated at 86 μg/L. Spirometry was normal except for a diffusing capacity 52% of predicted. Imaging was suggestive of sarcoidosis versus granulomatous infection. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage cytospin revealed a lymphocytic alveolitis (27% lymphocytes) with a CD4:CD8 ratio of 6.2:1 by flow cytometry. Biopsy showed classic noncaseating granulomas and no organisms supporting the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The patient’s symptoms and radiographic findings improved with 20 mg prednisone every other day for 3 months duration.
Kenneth S. Knox, MD
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Arizona Respiratory Center
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Reference as: Knox KS. Medical image of the week: sarcoidosis. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care 2013;6(2):84. PDF