Thoracic Manifestations of Behçet Disease at CT

Abstract

Behçet disease is a multisystemic and chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown cause that is characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcerations, ocular manifestations, and additional clinical manifestations in multiple organ systems. Behçet disease involving the chest can manifest as a wide spectrum of abnormalities. Although conventional chest radiography is commonly used for initial assessment, spiral computed tomography can demonstrate the entire spectrum of thoracic manifestations of Behçet disease, including abnormalities of the vessel lumen and wall, perivascular tissues, lung parenchyma, pleura, and mediastinal structures. Aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries, with or without thrombosis, are a typical manifestation of Behçet disease. Other manifestations include thrombosis, vasculitis, hemorrhage, infarction, and inflammation. Familiarity with these manifestations can be useful in the diagnosis of Behçet disease, helping to determine the cause of symptoms in patients who present with hemoptysis and guide the choice of appropriate therapy.

A 30-year-old female Behçet’s disease patient with recurrent pleural and pericardial effusion and elevated adenosine deaminase levels: case report

“…Recurrent oral and genital ulceration with uveitis represents the clinical triad (6). Various cardiovascular, pulmonary and neurological organs can be involved as a form of vasculitis, in addition to the joints and gastrointestinal system (3).…”

“…Pleural effusion is an uncommon manifestation that may result mostly from the secondary findings of superior vena cava (SVC) Case Report A 30-year-old female Behçet's disease patient with recurrent pleural and pericardial effusion and elevated adenosine deaminase levels: case report syndrome or pulmonary infarction. A few case reports have indicated pleural effusion due to primary vasculitis of the pleura (6). Cardiovascular involvement, including coronary artery disease, pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis, arrhythmia and valvular dysfunction, have been reported in <10% of patients with Behçet's disease (9)(10)(11).…”

“…Cardiovascular involvement, including coronary artery disease, pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis, arrhythmia and valvular dysfunction, have been reported in <10% of patients with Behçet's disease (9)(10)(11). Pericardial involvement, a common cardiac manifestation with up to 40% cardiac involvement, may be associated with vasculitis of the pericardium or SVC thrombosis (6,10).…”

Review article: Thoracic involvement in systemic primary vasculitis: radiological patterns and follow-up

“…Mean age of onset is about 30 years; men are much more commonly affected than women. Pleuropulmonary involvement is quite rare (1%-18% of cases) and mainly characterized by pulmonary arteries aneurysms, hemorrhage and parenchymal infarcts (21,22). The main clinical manifestation is hemoptysis, sometimes massive and life threatening.…”

A Case of Behcet Disease Characterized by the Appearance of a Mass in the Lungs

“…It was first described by Hulusi Behçet in 1937. Except for mucocutanous lesions, BD is a multisystem disorder affecting the musculoskeletal system, the vascular system, the gastrointestinal tract, the lungs, and the eyes [1,2]. Pulmonary parenchymal involvement of BD is not common.…”