Cystic lung disease in adult Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory of Australia

Abstract

Introduction: Indigenous Australians have a high prevalence of chronic lung diseases. However, no previous studies have reported on cystic lung disease in an Indigenous patient cohort.

Methods: This report describes 20 adult Indigenous patients noted to have incidental lung cysts on chest computed tomography (CT) while being referred to undergo lung function tests in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Results: Of the total 20 Indigenous patients demonstrating presence of pulmonary cysts on chest CT scan, 13/20 (65%) were males with a mean age of 49.9 years (range 24-74 years), with no significant difference in age between males and females. The majority reported a smoking history and spirometry demonstrated moderate reduction in lung function parameters. While there was no pattern in the size or location of cysts, most demonstrated multiple cysts (55% had ≥5 cysts) with bilateral involvement (65%), alongside a range of concurrent pulmonary radiological abnormalities. The aetiology for lung cysts was largely unknown.

Conclusion: This is the first report to illustrate cystic lung disease within an Indigenous population. Further radiology studies are required to investigate the causes and prognostications of cystic lung disease in Indigenous patients.

Keywords: computed tomography; cyst; lung; pulmonary cyst; radiology.