The radiographic prevalence of hilar and mediastinal adenopathy in adult cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: It has been stated that the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes in adults with cystic fibrosis are invariably enlarged from chronic inflammation. However, until correlation with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging became possible, the visualization of this feature on plain chest radiographs received very little attention, and even the advent of these modalities, little has been written on the subject.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To determine the frequency of positive radiographic evidence of hilar and mediastinal adenopathy, the chest radiographs of 48 adult patients with cystic fibrosis were reviewed.

RESULTS: Adenopathy was found in a total of 25 (52%) of the patients hilar in 22 (46%) and mediastinal in 21 (44%). The adenopathy was chronic and slowly progressive in all of the patients, and in no case did it resolve. The distribution of the adenopathy resembled sarcoidosis in 19 of the 25 patients and lymphoma in another patient.

CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of adenopathy was thought to be acceptably accurate: among patients for whom CT scans were also available, CT confirmed the radiographic diagnosis of abnormality in 22 of 24 sets of hilar lymph nodes and all 14 sets of mediastinal lymph nodes. When observed on chest radiography, mediastinal adenopathy was invariably widespread throughout the mediastinum. The presence of adenopathy was correlated with more severe pulmonary involvement, as assessed by the Brasfield scoring system. However, the importance of observing adenopathy radiographically lies in allaying concerns about the development of sarcoidosis or systemic lymphatic disease in these patients and preventing unnecessary concern and investigation.