Author(s)

Francisco Barbosa de Araújo Neto^1*, Tiago Castello Branco Lyra², Rita Karine Veras Gomes de Mello³, Vinícius Martins Valois³, Tiago Bezerra Albano³, Antônio Fernando Lins de Paiva⁴, Rodrigo Caruso Chate⁴, Cesar Higar Nomura⁴

¹Department of Radiology of the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
²Department of Radiology of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE), Sao Paulo, Brazil.
³Department of Radiology of the Hospital Heliópolis, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
⁴Cardiology Institute of the Clinic Hospital of the Medicine School of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Shrinking lung refers to a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus and is characterized by unexplained dyspnea, a restrictive pattern in lung function tests, and elevation of the diaphragmatic hemicuples. It is postulated to have a predilection for female involvement and occurs mainly during late stages of the disease. Chest X-rays usually show small, diaphragmatic lungs. Occasional basal atelectasis may be present. Chest tomography usually shows reduced lung volumes with diaphragmatic elevation, occasional basal atelectasis, without severe pulmonary or pleuropulmonary disease. Shrinking lung can cause significant morbidity and occasional mortality. There is no definitive therapy, while corticosteroids may decrease symptoms and improve lung function in some patients. The objective of this study was to describe the main imaging findings in Shrinking Lung, an important pulmonary alteration in lupus patients. We highlight the characteristics observed on radiography and computed tomography, with an emphasis on computed tomography. It is important that every radiologist is prepared to recognize these findings and understand the possible clinical repercussions.

Chest Tomography, Pulmonary Diseases, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Shrinking Lung

Neto, F. , Lyra, T. , Mello, R. , Valois, V. , Albano, T. , Paiva, A. , Chate, R. and Nomura, C. (2018) Shrinking Lung Detected on Computed Tomography: Pictorial Essay of the Main Findings of the Image. Open Journal of Medical Imaging, 8, 17-24. doi: 10.4236/ojmi.2018.82003.