ObjectiveTo identify characteristic high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings for connective tissue disease (CTD) associated interstitial pneumonia (IP).MethodsThe HRCT findings of 76 patients with CTD-IP were evaluated, the abnormalities were compared among CTD-IP patients using χ2 test, nonparametric test, and binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsIn rheumatoid arthritis associated IP (RA-IP), traction bronchiectasis was identified as the significant indicator based on binary logistic regression analyses. Traction bronchiectasis and honeycombing was identified as the most frequent finding based on χ2 test. In polymyositis/dermatomyositis associated IP (PM/DM-IP), consolidation was identified as the most frequent findings based on χ2 test, which reflected the higher frequency of the pathological organising pneumonia patterns. In systemic lupus erythematosus associated IP, traction bronchiectasis was identified as the least frequent findings based on χ2 test. In systemic sclerosis associated IP, esophageal dilatation was the most extensive based on Kruskale-Wallis test. In primary Sjogren’s syndrome associated IP, honeycombing was identified as the least frequent findings based on χ2 test. RA-IP was identified as the most frequent among CTD-IP which characterized as the predominance of honeycombing; PM/DM-IP was identified as the most frequent among CTD which characterized as the predominance of consolidation.ConclusionSeveral characteristic HRCT findings are identified in CTD-IP patients which are helpful for estimating underlying CTD.
