Thoracic cross-sectional imaging of amyloidosis.

Abstract
Our objective was to determine the thoracic manifestations on cross-sectional imaging of patients with tissue-proven amyloidosis.We reviewed the records of 300 patients with the diagnosis of amyloidosis on whom cross-sectional imaging was done at our institution between 1985 and 1995. After exclusions, 19 patients with tissue-proven amyloidosis and cervicothoracic cross-sectional imaging were included. Seven patients had localized amyloidosis and 12 patients had systemic amyloidosis. Eighteen patients underwent CT scans and the remaining patient, MR imaging.Two patients with systemic amyloidosis had widespread noncalcified adenopathy. A third patient had an infiltrative soft-tissue process in the mediastinum and axillae containing thick linear and focal calcifications. Five patients with localized amyloidosis had pulmonary nodules: Three patients had solitary nodules, one patient had two nodules, and one patient had 10 nodules. Nodules ranged in size from 8 mm to 3 cm. Eight patients with systemic amyloid...