Longitudinal follow-up study of smoker's lung with thin-section CT in correlation with pulmonary function tests.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate thin-section computed tomography (CT) in depicting longitudinal changes in the lung parenchyma.


METHODS
One hundred eleven volunteers underwent sequential examination with thin-section CT and pulmonary function tests over a mean period of 5.5 years. According to their smoking habits between initial evaluation (T0) and follow-up (T1), the subjects were classified as persistent current smokers (n = 57), persistent nonsmokers (n = 31), persistent ex-smokers (n = 13), or quitters (n = 10).


RESULTS
Significant differences in CT findings between T0 and T1 were seen in only the group of persistent current smokers, who showed a higher frequency of emphysema (40% vs 26%; P =.005) and ground-glass attenuation (42% vs 28%; P =.02). Individual analysis of follow-up CT scans in the 19 persistent current smokers with micronodules at T0 demonstrated (a) no changes in seven cases, (b) a higher profusion of micronodules in seven cases, and (c) replacement of micronodules with emphysema in five cases. Subjects with emphysema and/or areas of ground-glass attenuation at T0 had a significantly more rapid decline in lung function than did those with a normal CT scan.


CONCLUSIONS
Emphysema and/or ground-glass attenuation are linked with impairment of ventilatory lung function over time in persistent current smokers.
Remy-Jardin
Martine
M
Department of Radiology, Calmette University Center Hospital, Blvd Jules Leclerc, 59037 Lille, France. mremy-jardin@chru-lille.fr
Edme
Jean-Louis
JL
Boulenguez
Charles
C
Remy
Jacques
J
Mastora
Ioana
I
Sobaszek
Annie
A
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*