Loss of anteroposterior intralobar attenuation gradient of the lung: Correlation with pulmonary function.
OBJECTIVE
Since the initial description of an intralobar attenuation gradient by Webb et al, it has been suggested that departure from the intralobar attenuation gradient could indicate early lung diseases. However, its significance has not been determined in detail. We aimed to quantify the anteroposterior intralobar attenuation gradient on volumetric end-inspiratory and end-expiratory high-resolution computed tomography (CT) in patients with emphysema and to correlate the gradient values with pulmonary function.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 21 consecutive patients with emphysema evaluated with volumetric expiratory high-resolution CT and 6 patients with normal high-resolution CT findings. The anteroposterior intralobar attenuation gradient values were quantified on end-inspiratory and end-expiratory sagittal reformations using a lung analysis software program and were correlated with pulmonary function tests results.


RESULTS
The intralobar attenuation gradient values in patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) < or =70% were significantly smaller compared with those in patients with FEV1 >70% in bilateral lower lobes at end-expiration (P = .0061, P = .047, respectively, unpaired t-test). The FEV1 values in patients with attenuation gradient values < or =0.02 were significantly lower than in those with attenuation gradient values >0.02 (right lower lobe: P = .024; left lower lobe: P = .0034; chi-squared test). The intralobar attenuation gradient values in bilateral lower lobes at end-expiration were significantly correlated with FEV1 and FEV1/forced vital capacity (right: P = .031, P = .039, respectively; left: P = .036, P = .030, respectively, Pearson correlation).


CONCLUSIONS
The quantitative measurement of the anteroposterior intralobar attenuation gradient values of the lung showed that these gradients at end-expiration in both lower lobes correlate with obstructive physiology.
Nishino
Mizuki
M
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. mnishino@bidmc.harvard.edu
Roberts
David H
DH
Sitek
Arkadiusz
A
Raptopoulos
Vassilios
V
Boiselle
Phillip M
PM
Hatabu
Hiroto
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*