title: Noninvasive detection of sublobar bronchial obstructions. An experimental study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to develop a noninvasive radiographic method for detection of sublobar bronchial obstructions. The study was primarily done in dogs, where the obstruction was made experimentally. Inspiratory and expiratory films did not show any obvious density difference between lung parenchyma distal to the obstruction and the surrounding lung. A short application of positive end-expiratory pressure immediately followed by a forced expiration, created localized air trapping with relative radiolucency of the lung tissue distal to the obstruction. This method, easily applicable to human studies, may prove useful in early diagnosis of lung cancer with intraluminal obstruction and in detecting non-radiopaque airway foreign bodies. As an example of human application a case of lung cancer in a 57-year-old man is presented.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001995:Bronchography; D002404:Catheterization; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration