Key result
Thoracic CT reveals atelectasis and cardiomegaly in ~60% of symptomatic long-term hemodialysis patients.
Why the study?
What are the common thoracic CT findings in symptomatic long-term hemodialysis patients?
Observational (n=117)
What are the common thoracic CT findings in symptomatic long-term hemodialysis patients?
Thoracic CT in symptomatic long-term hemodialysis patients frequently reveals cardiomegaly, pleural effusion, and infectious parenchymal consolidation, highlighting the importance of early imaging to detect treatable infections.
CT patterns may aid evaluation of respiratory symptoms in long-term hemodialysis; observational data leave open effects on management.
PURPOSE: To evaluate thoracic CT findings of long-term hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thoracic CT findings of 117 uremic patients (61 men, 56 women) with complaints of cough, dyspnea, low-grade pyrexia, malaise, weight loss, and profuse perspiration were retrospectively documented. RESULTS: Atelectasis (60%), cardiomegaly (60%), pleural effusion (51%), vascular congestion (44%), parenchymal consolidation (38%), parenchymal scarring-fibrosis (31%), and lymphadenopathy (29%) were the most common CT findings in the thoraces of the long-term hemodialysis patients. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 13 patients (11%) who had parenchymal infiltration. Thoracic tuberculosis was identified in 15 patients (13%), 11 of these cases being confined to the lung parenchyma, 3 to the pleura, and 1 involving the pleura and pericardium. CONCLUSION: In patients under long-term hemodialysis treatment, parenchymal consolidation, secondary to infectious agents such as S. aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the most important CT finding since these lesions can be detected and treated successfully if they are considered as etiologic factors early on.
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Çoşkun et al. (1999) conducted an observational in Uremia on long-term hemodialysis (n=117). Long-term hemodialysis was evaluated on Thoracic CT findings. In long-term hemodialysis patients with respiratory symptoms, the most common thoracic CT findings were atelectasis (60%), cardiomegaly (60%), and pleural effusion (51%).
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