The Chest Radiograph in “Juvenile” Cirrhosis (Active Chronic Hepatitis)

Abstract

Sixty patients suffering from "juvenile" cirrhosis (active chronic hepatitis) and 23 patients withalcoholic cirrhosis were studied. In 24 of the cases of juvenile cirrhosis the radiographs were abnormal. The abnormalities included pulmonary collapse, pleural effusion, cardiac enlargement, and mottled shadowing in the lung fields. There was a high incidence of disease of other organs, notably ulcerative colitis, Hashimoto''s thyroiditis, and renal or joint changes of systemic lupus erythematosus. The relation of the radiographic changes to fluid retention, systematic lupus erythematosus, hyperkinetic circulation and intrapulmonary shunting is discussed.