title: Diagnostic yield of computed tomography and densitometric measurements of the lung in thoracoscopically-defined idiopathic spontaneous pneumothorax.
abstract: In the present study, the diagnostic yield of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is evaluated in patients with thoracoscopically-verified idiopathic spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). Visual assessment as well as densitometry of lung parenchyma was performed. In eight of the 20 prospectively-evaluated SP patients, emphysema-like (EL) changes such as blebs and bullae could be detected. The SP patients with EL changes were significantly older and were more heavy smokers. Spirometrically-controlled CT lung densitometry showed no differences between the patient group with or without these EL changes. Comparing the densitometric measurements of the patient group with a healthy control group no significant differences in densitometry between both groups were found. In conclusion, this study confirms that HRCT is a reliable method of detecting blebs and bullae in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. Furthermore CT lung densitometry revealed no parenchymal abnormalities or signs of air trapping in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. aclae@slon.azm.nl
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: van Belle
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lamers
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: ten Velde
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Wouters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology