High-resolution computed tomography in assessment of patients with emphysema.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) variables are as good as other known clinical variables in grading emphysema patients.


METHODS
A detailed clinical history was taken and physical examination performed. We performed serum study, lung function testing, and HRCT scanning to assess emphysema. Mean lung density, the attenuation value separating the least 15% of pixels (PERC15), the percentage of the relative area of the lungs with attenuation values < -950 Hounsfield units (HU) (RA950), and histogram analysis were calculated from computerized data.


RESULTS
The final analysis was based on data from 92 subjects, and they were moderately emphysematous (mean lung density was -877 ± 23 HU, PERC15 was -953 ± 21 HU, and RA950 was 16 ± 5%). There was a significant difference regarding subjective emphysema severity in the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, smoking history, FEV1, C-reactive protein, age, and body mass index (P < .001). There was a significant correlation between the 3 objective image variables and the 6 objective clinical variables (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, smoking history, FEV1, C-reactive protein, age, and body mass index) (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows the possible important role of HRCT in the diagnosis and quantification of pulmonary emphysema.
Division of Respirology, Antai Medical Care Cooperation, Antai Tian-Sheng Memorial Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan. wangjs6@hotmail.com
Jeng-Shing
JS
Wang
Jaw-Ming
JM
Cherng
Daw-Shyong
DS
Perng
Hong-Shen
HS
Lee
Sophie
S
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D002097:C-Reactive Protein