Pulmonary Complications of Sickle Cell Anemia

“Sickle cell disease” describes the spectrum of pathology in patients with at least one HbS chain and one other abnormal β‎ globin chain. Although patients with sickle cell disease often present with a simple community acquired pneumonia, acute chest syndrome must be considered in patients presenting with chest pain and fever, as it carries an increased risk of mortality, especially in adults. A few other entities, including rib infarction and subdiaphragmatic pathologies, can mimic the symptoms of acute chest syndrome. Finally, the findings of sickle cell disease on chest radiography will be discussed. Radiologists must be familiar with these findings in order to accurately interpret imaging studies, especially when the history of sickle cell is not provided.