title: Diagnosis of bronchiectasis with multislice spiral CT: accuracy of 3-mm-thick structured sections.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of 3-mm-thick reconstructed sections in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis with multislice CT (MSCT). Forty consecutive patients suspected of bronchiectasis (23 females, 17 males; mean age 51 years) underwent MSCT of the entire thorax with a 4x1-mm collimation (120 kV, 0.5 s/rotation, 80 mAs/slice) and a pitch of 1.75. From each data set (mean z-axis coverage: 257 mm; mean duration: 21 s), two series of images were systematically generated: 1-mm (group 1) and 3-mm (group 2)-thick reconstructed scans. Both series of images were obtained at 10-mm intervals and reconstructed with a high-spatial-frequency algorithm. Two observers independently analyzed the presence of bronchiectasis and associated abnormalities in group-1 and group-2 lung images. No significant difference between group 1 and group 2 was found in: (a) the detection of bronchiectasis, identified in 24 patients (60%) in group 1 and in 23 patients (57.5%) in group 2 ( p=0.08); (b) the evaluation of the extent of bronchiectasis, identifying focal bronchiectasis in 10 patients (25%) in group 1 and 7 patients (17.5%) in group 2 ( p=0.39) and multifocal bronchiectasis in 16 patients (40%) in both groups; (c) the characterisation of bronchiectasis (cylindral bronchiectasis: group 1, n=24, 60%; group 2, n=21, 53%, p=0.08); varicose bronchiectasis: group 1, n=5, 12.5%; group 2, n=6, 15%, p=0.56); and cystic bronchiectasis: group 1, n=2, 5%; group 2, n=2, 5%). Apart from the identification of abnormal bronchial wall thickening (group 2, n=35, 87.5%, vs group 1, n=31, 77.5%, p<0.05), recognition of associated bronchopulmonary anomalies did not differ between the two groups. This study demonstrates a comparable accuracy of the 3- and 1-mm-thick reconstructed scans in the detection and characterization of bronchiectasis. These results suggest the potential usefulness of 3-mm-thick scans generated from 4x2.5-mm acquisitions in the screening of bronchiectasis, which would allow a 20% radiation dose reduction compared with the present investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital Calmette, University Center of Lille, Boulevard Jules Leclerc, 59037, Lille Cedex, France. mremy-jardin@chru-lille.fr
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Remy-Jardin
authors.forename: Assia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amara
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campistron
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mastora
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delannoy
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duhamel
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Remy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*