Chest computed tomography findings in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and correlation with lung function.
OBJECTIVE
With changes in the predominant pathogenic factors in the new form of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a different pattern of CT findings may be expected. This study aimed to (1) describe CT findings in infants with BPD and (2) correlate the CT findings with lung function abnormalities.


METHODS
Retrospective review of 41 very low birthweight infants with BPD, who were referred for pulmonary investigations at between 10 and 20 months after birth because of persistent respiratory symptoms, and underwent CT and lung function tests.


RESULTS
None of the infants had normal CT findings. The most frequent abnormalities were hyperlucent areas (n = 36; 88%), linear opacities (n = 39; 95%), and triangular subpleural opacities (n = 26; 63%). Bronchiectasis was not seen. None of the CT abnormalities correlated with the maximum expiratory flow at functional residual capacity (VmaxFRC). In contrast, increased number of subpleural opacities and limited linear opacities were associated with low FRC and longer duration of neonatal oxygen exposure. The numbers of triangular subpleural opacities also correlated with duration of mechanical ventilation.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite advances in neonatal care, many CT findings in infants with BPD are similar to those observed in the pre-surfactant era, and are still associated with duration of supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation. The absence of bronchial involvement in the present study was the most striking difference from previous studies.
Mahut
Bruno
B
Christophe Delacourt, Service de Pédiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal, 40 avenue de Verdun, 94000 Créteil, France.
De Blic
Jacques
J
Emond
Sophie
S
Benoist
Marie-Rose
MR
Jarreau
Pierre-Henri
PH
Lacaze-Masmonteil
Thierry
T
Magny
Jean-François
JF
Delacourt
Christophe
C
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D016014:Linear Models; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed