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  • Title: Ultrasound lung comets in systemic sclerosis: a chest sonography hallmark of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.
    Author: Gargani L, Doveri M, D'Errico L, Frassi F, Bazzichi ML, Delle Sedie A, Scali MC, Monti S, Mondillo S, Bombardieri S, Caramella D, Picano E.
    Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford); 2009 Nov; 48(11):1382-7. PubMed ID: 19717549.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between ultrasound lung comets (ULCs, a recently described echographic sign of interstitial lung fibrosis) and the current undisputed gold-standard high-resolution CT (HRCT) to detect pulmonary fibrosis in patients with SSc. METHODS: We enrolled 33 consecutive SSc patients (mean age 54 +/- 13 years, 30 females) in the Rheumatology Clinic of the University of Pisa. We assessed ULCs and chest HRCT within 1 week independently in all the patients. ULC score was obtained by summing the number of lung comets on the anterior and posterior chest. Pulmonary fibrosis was quantified by HRCT with a previously described 30-point Warrick score. RESULTS: Presence of ULCs (defined as a total number more than 10) was observed in 17 (51%) SSc patients. Mean ULC score was 37 +/- 50, higher in the diffuse than in the limited form (73 +/- 66 vs 21 +/- 35; P < 0.05). A significant positive linear correlation was found between ULCs and Warrick scores (r = 0.72; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ULCs are often found in SSc, are more frequent in the diffuse than the limited form and are reasonably well correlated with HRCT-derived assessment of lung fibrosis. They represent a simple, bedside, radiation-free hallmark of pulmonary fibrosis of potential diagnostic and prognostic value.
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