CT findings in bronchiectasis: limited value in distinguishing between idiopathic and specific types.

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the pattern and distribution of bronchiectasis shown on CT scans can be used to discriminate between idiopathic cases and those with an identifiable cause.The CT scans of 168 patients with chronic purulent sputum production and who were suspected of having bronchiectasis were analyzed (117 patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis, 15 with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, 15 with hypogammaglobulinemia, 15 with impaired mucociliary clearance, and seven with cystic fibrosis diagnosed in adult life). The scans were analyzed in random order by two observers. The extent, site, type, and lobar distribution of bronchiectasis and the severity of bronchial dilatation and bronchial wall thickening were scored. The frequency of these features in the known-cause groups was compared with that in the idiopathic group to identify any significant differences.Compared with idiopathic bronchiectasis, no significant lobar predominance was seen in any of the known-caus...

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