title: [The recording of parenchymal lung changes in smokers by high-resolution computed tomography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been the aim of the study to assess parenchymal changes in the lung with high-resolution CT in healthy heavy, moderate, and non-smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated CT changes in 42 healthy heavy smokers (gr. (group) 2, > or = 30 pack-years), 40 moderate smokers (gr. 1, < 30 pack-years) and 38 non-smokers (gr. 0). For CT-analysis, we used a visual grading and computer-based analysis system (Mipron, Kontron GmbH, Munich, Germany).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Productive cough, dyspnoea and chronic bronchitis were more common in smokers than in non-smokers (p < 0.05). Pathological CT-findings were found in 6/38 non-smokers and in 71/82 smokers (p < 0.01). In particular, in smokers (gr. 1 [%], gr. 2 [%]) the following pathological findings were found: dystelectases in dependent lung areas in 50% (62, 38), centrilobular emphysema in 44% (43, 20), pleural thickening in 38% (38, 38), panlobular emphysema in 36% (52, 20), ground-glass pattern in 33% (36, 30), paraseptal emphysema in 21% (31, 10), prominent or thickened interlobular septa in 18% (29, 8) and centrilobular micronodules in 13% (10, 18). Computer-based analysis demonstrated thicker bronchial walls in smokers as compared to non-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although feeling healthy, smokers demonstrate various parenchymal abnormalities in the lung. In smokers, subpleural dystelectases, centrilobular and panlobular emphysema are dependent on cigarette consumption, ground glass pattern, centrilobular micronodules, pleural thickening and bronchial wall thickening are independent on cigarette consumption.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum der RWTH Aachen.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller-Leisse
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Günther
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data