Systemic sclerosis imaging

Fig. 26.27. Axial CT image in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis shows a mixture of fine reticular and ground-glass opacities (black arrows), associated with mild traction bronchiectasis (white arrow), consistent with a nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern. Note esophageal dilatation (arrowheads)...

Shah RM, Jimenez S, Wechsler R. Significance of grormd-glass opacity on HRCT in long-term follow-up of patients with systemic sclerosis. J Thorac Imaging 2007 22 120-124. 

The targeting of molecular markers associated with inflammation could, in principle, be useful for the imaging and therapy of several other inflammatory diseases. Besides rheumatoid arthritis, these include inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn s disease and ulcerative cohtis), psoriasis, atherosclerosis, and diseases of the central nervous system (Alzheimeris disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.). 

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