[A comparative study of computed tomographic techniques for the detection of emphysema in middle-aged and older patient populations].
Helical-scan computed tomography (CT) is now widely utilized as a mass screening procedure for lung cancer. By adding 3 slices of high-resolution CT (HRCT) to the standard screening procedure, we were able to compare the efficacy of helical-scan CT and HRCT in detecting pulmonary emphysema. Additionally, the prevalence of emphysema detected by HRCT was examined as a function of patient age and smoking history. The subjects (106 men and 28 women) were all community-based middle-aged and older volunteers who participated in a mass lung cancer screening program. Based on visual assessments of the CT films, emphysema was detected in 29 subjects (22%) by HRCT, but in only 4 (3%) by helical-scan CT. Although the prevalence of emphysema was higher among subjects with a higher smoking index, no correlations with age were observed. We concluded that the efficacy of helical scan CT in detecting pulmonary emphysema can be significantly improved with the inclusion of 3 slices of HRCT, and confirmed that cigarette smoking is linked to the development of pulmonary emphysema.
Tanino
M
M
First Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Nishimura
M
M
Betsuyaku
T
T
Takeyabu
K
K
Tanino
Y
Y
Miyamoto
K
K
Kawakami
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed