[Multi-rotation CT and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Animal experiment studies].
OBJECTIVE
Aim of the study was to investigate alveolar inspiration and expiration using multiscan CT. Results of a visual assessment using a scoring system were compared with density ranges known to represent alveolar ventilation best.


METHODS
Pigs were examined before and after lavage-induced ARDS. All animals were examined using dynamic multiscan CT. The visual assessment was done by a scoring system proposed by Gattinoni. The results were compared with planimetric determination of defined density ranges.


RESULTS
In the healthy lung, the visual analysis showed higher scores at lower airway pressures with a marked gradient, whereas at higher pressures neither opacities nor gradients were observed. In ARDS-lungs, the scores were double as high as in healthy lungs at low pressures. At the same time the differences between inspiration and expiration were minor. There was good correlation between lung density measurements and lung opacities under different airway pressures. In healthy lungs, the greatest area increase is found between -910 and -700 HU. The biggest area growth in the ARDS-model is observed between -910 and -300 HU.


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic multiscan CT allows for determining different ventilation-relevant lung compartments and lung density ranges.
Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, Gebäude 701, 55131 Mainz. bink@radiologie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
A
A
Bink
K
K
Markstaller
K
K
Birkenkamp
J
J
Karmrodt
A
A
Stepniak
C P
CP
Heussel
B
B
Eberle
M
M
Thelen
H U
HU
Kauczor
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012016:Reference Values; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013552:Swine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*