Ces radiol. 2010, 64(3):218-225

Non-infectious pulmonary complications in patients after the hematopoietic stem cell transplantationReview article

Andrea Burgetová¹, Petr Cetkovský², Manuela Vaněčková¹, Martina Vondráčková¹, Jitka Němcová³, Zdeněk Seidl^1,3

¹ Radiodiagnostická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

² Ústav hematologie a krevní transfuze, Praha

³ Vysoká škola zdravotnická, Praha

The summary of current knowledge of non-infectious pulmonary complications after the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is presented. Pulmonary complication after HSCT ranks among the most common and the most important from the viewpoint of long term prognosis. These can be classified according to the causing agent into infectious and non-infectious and their spectrum is influenced by many variables. Timely diagnosis of the complications and following therapy is crucial for further welfare of transplanted patient. Imaging methods such as chest X ray and foremost HRCT significantly contribute to the discovery of pulmonary pathology, the sole problem being low specificity of pathological findings. In the past there was an equal ratio of infectious and non-infectious pulmonary affections, but in the recent years there is higher rate of non-infectious complications which is caused by efficient antiinfectious drugs administration and so these must be included in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. Our paper portrays a survey of non-infectious pulmonary complications with their brief characteristics, manifestations, differential diagnosis in immunocompromised patients and the possibilities and results of imaging methods. Since the pulmonary complications often correspond to the type of immunodeficiency, the diagnostic image has to be considered in the relation to the time period elapsed after the transplantation and together with the clinical findings. The multidisciplinary approach to the pulmonary complications is crucial and consists of cooperation among haematologist, radiologist and pneumologist. The authors demonstrate some pulmonary pathologies they encountered in their patients.

Keywords: HRCT, lung, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Grants and funding:

Práce byla podpořena granty MZO/VFN2005 a MSMTO21620849.

Accepted: April 15, 2010; Published: September 1, 2010  Show citation