title: Comparison between conventional interrupted high-resolution CT and volume multidetector CT acquisition in the assessment of bronchiectasis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is superior diagnostic accuracy for the detection and exclusion of bronchiectasis using 16-slice CT of the chest (1 mm) compared with conventional high-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest (10 mm). A prospective study was carried out in patients who were referred for chest CT by a chest physician for the investigation of bronchiectasis over a 1-year period. All scans were performed using a 16-slice CT scanner. In addition to contiguous 1 mm slices, conventional HRCT images (1 mm slice every 10 mm) were prepared. Both datasets were dual read. There were 53 patients with a median age of 62 years (range, 51.5-71.5 years), comprising 14 males and 39 females. 10 of 53 scans had no bronchiectasis in either dataset. 36 patients had bronchiectasis diagnosed on both HRCT and 1 mm scans. Two patients had tubular bronchiectasis on the HRCT scans, which was not confirmed on the 1 mm scans. Five patients had confirmed tubular bronchiectasis on the 1 mm scans, which was not identified on HRCT scans. 40 extra lobes demonstrated bronchiectasis on the 1 mm vs the HRCT scans; of these, half were labelled as definite bronchiectasis on the 1 mm scan. There was a 32% increased confidence with the 1 mm scans compared with conventional HRCT of the chest in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis (p < 0.001). In conclusion, there is improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence for diagnosis and exclusion of bronchiectasis using 16-slice chest CT (1 mm cuts) compared with conventional HRCT of the chest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA UK. ucyhill@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wightman
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Murchison
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*