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Diffuse Cutaneous Scleroderma with Interstitial Lung Disease: Radiological Findings
A 44-year-old woman with cutaneous manifestations, tightening of her face with a reduced oral aperture and a healing digital tip ulcer (Figures 1 and 2) has had a known case of diffuse scleroderma since 2008. The patient presented with complaints of shortness of breath along with dysphagia. A barium swallow showed dilated distal thoracic esophagus without mural mass (Figure 3). A high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest scan (Figures 4, 5 and 6) showed areas of inter- and intra-lobular septal thickening with tractional bronchiectasis, honeycomb cysts and groundglassing in apico-basilar gradient suggestive of interstitial lung disease (UIP pattern). A dilated esophagus was also shown, suggestive of motility disorder related to scleroderma.
Shung Ming Chiu, MBBS, is a medical officer in rheumatology, a member of the Spondylitis Association of America and its first International Support Group Leader. He has previously written for The Rheumatologist about his experience completing medical training with a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis.
