Cystic lung disease in systemic sclerosis: a case report with high resolution computed tomography findings

Abstract

A 31-year old black female presented with limited scleroderma. Although she had no chest symptoms, chest radiographs showed a basal reticular pattern with large cysts in both lung fields. High resolution computed tomography revealed almost complete effacement of normal lung architecture by multiple large cysts, honeycombing and interstitial fibrosis. Cystic lung disease is an uncommon manifestation of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis, and its natural history needs to be better defined.