title: Investigation of airways using MDCT for visual and quantitative assessment in COPD patients.
abstract: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) acquisition during a single breath hold using thin collimation provides high resolution volumetric data set permitting multiplanar and three dimensional reconstruction of the proximal airways. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, this technique provides an accurate assessment of bronchial wall thickening, tracheobronchial deformation, outpouchings reflecting dilatation of the submucous glands, tracheobronchomalacia, and expiratory air trapping. New software developed to segment adequately the lumen and walls of the airways on MDCT scans allows quantitative assessment of the airway dimensions which has shown to be reliable in clinical practice. This technique can become important in longitudinal studies of the pathogenesis of COPD, and in the assessment of therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Avicenne Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Leonard deVinci-Paris Nord, EA 2361, Bobigny, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Brillet
authors.forename: Catalin I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Fetita
authors.forename: Amaury
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saragaglia
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beigelman-Aubry
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prêteux
authors.forename: Philippe A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Grenier
mesh_terms: D001995:Bronchography; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed