Chest Computerized Tomography in the Evaluation of Uveitis

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Computerized tomography (CT) of the chest was valuable in the evaluation of elderly women with uveitis. We further examined the utility of chest CT in patients with intraocular inflammation of undetermined etiology regardless of age and gender. Methods: Prospective case series. Chest CT was performed on all patients with intraocular inflammation without definitive cause between January 2002 and December 2002. Results: 42 patients (14 males, 28 females), ages 13-88 (median, 54.5 yrs) were included. All patients underwent a battery of diagnostic laboratory studies and chest CT. Chest CT in 16 of 42 (38%) patients was positive for parenchymal, mediastinal, and/or hilar adenopathy. Eight of 16 (50%) were women (41-88 yrs; median, 61.5 yrs) and 8 (50%) were men (26-79 yrs; median, 51 yrs). Eleven of 16 patients with positive CT underwent mediastinoscopy. Non-necrotizing granulomas were present in 8 patients (6 females, 2 males). Necrotizing granulomas were found in 2 patients and benign anthracotic lymph node in 1 patient. In 6 additional patients, chest CT revealed breast mass (1), postinflammatory change (1), interstitial fibrosis (1), axillary lymphadenopathy (1), pleural mass (1), and subcutaneous nodule (1). Conclusions: Chest CT is useful in the evaluation of uveitis.

Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, S • uveitis-clinical/animal model • inflammation