The contribution of computed tomography in assessment of pulmonary emphysema in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease
2014
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a severe condition with increasing frequency in population. CT examination is able to assess morphological characteristics of pulmonary tissue and its changes.
The main pathologies visible on CT scans are decreased tissue attenuation and lung tissue destruction. Apart from conventional CT description, two new methods can contribute to CT evaluation.
First is lung tissue densitometry that measures percentage of low attenuation areas (LAA%) in lungs. This parameter often seems to be more sensitive than functional pulmonary tests.
Second is lung volumetry This method is very important especially for volume reduction therapies (either surgical or endoscopical).