Diagnostic performances of high resolution trans-thoracic lung ultrasonography in pulmonary alveoli-interstitial involvement of rheumatoid lung disease

Introduction: Alveolointerstitial involvement is a common manifestation in patients with connective tissue disorders. The aim of our study is to investigate the utility of modified TTUS scoring system compared with HRCT findings of pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid lung disease. Material and Methods: Thirty one consecutive patients with a suspected diagnosis of rheumatoid lung involvement were examined with high resolution transthoracic ultrasonography for detecting of ultrasonographic comet tail signe as a ultrasonographic marker of lung involvement in alveolointerstitial involvement in rheumatoid lung disease and the results of them were compared with High resolution computed tomography as gold standard method for diagnosis of lung involvement in this patients. Results: In comparison with HRCT as gold standard method, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of TTUS was 73.58%, 88.23%, 95.12% and 51.72% respectively. Conclusion: Modified TTUS can be a useful imaging modality in the evaluation of even early stages of pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid lung disease.