Peribronchovascular haze: a frequently observed finding on chest X-rays in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of peribronchovascular haze on chest X-rays (CXR) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), a finding not previously emphasized, and to contrast this finding with clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic findings.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients diagnosed as KD from January 2010 to December 2011 were eligible for this study. The initial CXRs were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists for the presence of peribronchovascular haze and related findings. Echocardiography was reviewed by one pediatrician for the presence of coronary artery abnormalities. The follow up CXRs and post-remission echocardiograms were also reviewed. Patients' medical records were reviewed for clinical findings. Correlation between CXR findings and clinical findings were assessed.

Results: On the initial CXR, peribronchovascular haze was observed in 57/69 patients (82.6 %). Twenty-nine out of 69 patients showed abnormalities on echocardiogram (42.0 %). In the follow-up studies, CXR findings were improved in 25/29 patients (86.2 %). The frequencies of five principal clinical features of KD were from 55.1 to 88.4 %. There was no statistically significant correlation between the CXR finding and clinical findings.

Conclusion: Peribronchovascular haze on CXR was observed in the acute phase of KD as frequently as the principal clinical features of KD, and more frequently than echocardiographic abnormalities.