Serial high-resolution computed tomography findings of acute and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by avian antigen.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate serial changes and the prognostic value of high-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) findings in hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP).

METHOD: The medical records of 112 patients with bird-related HP (17 acute, 33 recurrent, and 62 insidious) were retrospectively reviewed. High-resolution computed tomographic findings at the time of diagnosis and at follow-up were retrospectively interpreted.

RESULTS

Ground-glass opacities and centrilobular nodules were predominant findings in acute and recurrent HP, whereas honeycombing was the outstanding feature in insidious HP. Areas of ground-glass opacities and centrilobular nodules decreased in all groups over a long-term follow-up. Areas of honeycombing, on the other hand, increased in chronic HP, especially in the insidious cases. Cox regression models revealed a higher mortality risk in cases with airspace consolidation and honeycombing on HRCT.

CONCLUSION

Acute, recurrent, and insidious HP all have characteristic features on CT. Characteristic HRCT findings can predict the prognosis of chronic HP.