title: [Chest X-ray and computed tomography in the evaluation of pulmonary emphysema].
abstract: Emphysema is a condition of the lung, characterized by the abnormal increase in the size of the airspace distal to the terminal bronchioles. Currently, emphysema is the fourth leading cause of death in the USA, affecting 14 million people. The present article describes the principal tools in the imaging diagnosis of emphysema, from the early days until the present. We describe traditional techniques, such as chest X-ray, together with the evolution of computed tomography (CT) to more advanced forms, such as high resolution CT, as well as three-dimensional CT densitometry and volumetric assessment.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Centre-Liverpool NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Klaus Loureiro
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Irion
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hochhegger
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchiori
authors.forename: Nelson da Silva
authors.initials: Nda S
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Sérgio de Vasconcellos
authors.initials: Sde V
authors.lastname: Baldisserotto
authors.forename: Pablo Rydz
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Santana
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*