title: High-resolution computed tomography in healthy smokers and never-smokers: a 6-year follow-up study of men born in 1933.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate whether emphysematous lesions and other high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings considered associated with smoking are part of a progressive process, and to measure the extent to which similar changes are found in never-smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy smokers and never-smokers were recruited from a randomized epidemiological study and investigated with a 6-year interval. Emphysema, parenchymal and subpleural nodules, ground-glass opacities, bronchial alterations, and septal lines were evaluated in 66 subjects (40 smokers, 11 of whom had stopped smoking in the interval, and 26 never-smokers). Lung function was tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All except emphysematous lesions were present to some extent in never-smokers. Emphysema, parenchymal nodules, and septal lines occurred significantly more in current smokers, and a progression in extent of emphysema, ground-glass opacities, bronchial alterations and septal lines was seen. There was no significant change among those who stopped and never-smokers except for bronchial alterations, which progressed in never-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy, elderly never-smokers a low extent of various HRCT findings has to be considered normal. Emphysema, parenchymal nodules, and ground-glass opacities are indicative of smoking-induced disease. Further progress may cease if smoking is stopped.
authors.affiliation: The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. jenny.vikgren@vgregion.se
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vikgren
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boijsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andelid
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekberg-Jansson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bake
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tylén
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed