Lung density standard deviations obtained using high-pitch dual-source computed tomography are valid predictors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to validate standard deviations of lung densities obtained using high-pitch dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) densitometry as indices of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) severity in premature infants.


METHODS
Data of preterm, late preterm group, and early term groups were evaluated. Mean and median standard deviations (SDmean, SDmedian) of CT lung density (CTLD) were calculated from CT images.


RESULTS
SDmean of CTLD in infants with severe BPD was significantly higher than that of infants without BPD (198.1 vs. 140.9, respectively; P=.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Study results support using high-pitch DSCT for BPD diagnosis and quantitative evaluation in prematurity.
Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Yi-Shan
YS
Tsai
Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Yi-Sheng
YS
Liu
Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Yu-Hsiang
YH
Shih
Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Ming-Tsung
MT
Chuang
Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Yuh-Jyh
YJ
Lin
Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Chyi-Her
CH
Lin
Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: appledr@hotmail.com.
Yung-Chieh
YC
Lin
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
BPD; Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Dual-source CT; High-pitch; Prematurity