Radiologists Look for Patterns As More Adults are Diagnosed With Cystic Fibrosis

Marked improvements have been made over the past few decades in managing cystic fibrosis, but as more adults are diagnosed with the disease radiologists can do more to monitor the wide spectrum

Marked improvements have been made over the past few decades in managing cystic fibrosis, but as more adults are diagnosed with the disease radiologists can do more to monitor the wide spectrum of CF in adults, including nonclassic imaging findings, according to an article published in the July 2017 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).

There is an expanding and increasingly heterogeneous population of adult patients with cystic fibrosis, said the article's lead author, Dr. Sarah Averill of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Cystic Fibrosis - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Support Groups
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease involving the mucus and sweat glands and the medical world has still to find its cure

‘The Society's mission is to improve health through a community committed to advancing knowledge and skills in radiology.’

"Because adult medical and imaging services are dealing with a rising number and complexity of multisystem complications, many authorities now regard CF to be as much a disease of adulthood as one of childhood," Averill wrote.

Titled "Multisystem Imaging Findings of Cystic Fibrosis in Adults: Recognizing Typical and Atypical Patterns of Disease," the article noted that approximately 70,000 people worldwide are affected with CF, 30,000 of whom are in the United States. Although CF is usually diagnosed in children with progressive multisystem involvement, up to 7% of CF cases are currently diagnosed de novo in adults with subtle manifestations distinct from the typical features of classic CF, the AJR article stated.

"Recurrent pancreatitis, chronic sinusitis, and CBAVD are several of the ways in which CF is identified in adult patients with relatively rare mutations and with overall milder manifestations," the AJR article said. "It is important for radiologists to recognize the wide spectrum of CF to optimally monitor disease progression and response to therapeutic interventions in distinct adult patient populations."

Respiratory Diseases - Diseases of the Human Respiratory System
Respiratory diseases affect any part of the respiratory system. Some of the lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can lead to respiratory failure.

Founded in 1900, ARRS is the first and oldest radiology society in the United States, and is an international forum for progress in radiology. ARRS achieves its mission through an annual scientific and educational meeting, publication of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) and InPractice magazine, topical symposia and webinars, and print and online educational materials. ARRS is located in Leesburg, VA.

Structure of Mucus in Airways Altered by Cystic Fibrosis
Healthy lungs require mucus. Inhaled particles, such as bacteria and viruses, get trapped in mucus and then cilia on the surface of the airway cells sweep the mucus out of the airway.

Source-Eurekalert