|
 |
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2001
Small airways diseases: detection and insights with computed tomography
National Heart and Lung Institute and Division of Investigative Science, Imperial College School of Medicine, London and Department of Radiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
CORRESPONDENCE: D.M. Hansell, Dept of Radiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP, UK. Fax: 44 2073518098
Keywords: computed tomography, obliterative bronchiolitis, small airways disease
Received: September 9, 2000
Accepted January 1, 2001
Abstract
Diseases affecting the small airways are difficult to detect by traditional diagnostic tests. Widespread involvement is needed before symptoms and abnormalities on pulmonary function testing or chest radiography become apparent. Obstruction of the bronchioles may be detected indirectly by computed tomography (CT) because regional under-ventilation results in reduced perfusion which in turn is shown as a mosaic attenuation pattern of the lung parenchyma. When there is inflammation of the bronchioles with accompanying exudate, the airways may become directly visible on CT, for example in cases of diffuse panbronchiolitis.
Quantification of the various morphological features of small airways disease is possible from CT images and this increased precision has aided investigations of structure/function relationships.
An understanding of the pathology and microscopic distribution of disease in relation to the airways allows some prediction of the likely computed tomography appearances in this wide spectrum of conditions, and thus helps to refine the differential diagnosis.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  F G B G J van Rooy, L A M Smit, R Houba, V A C Zaat, J M Rooyackers, and D J J Heederik A cross-sectional study of lung function and respiratory symptoms among chemical workers producing diacetyl for food flavourings Occup. Environ. Med., February 1, 2009; 66(2): 105 - 110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. A. Bankier, C. R. O'Donnell, and P. M. Boiselle Quality Initiatives * Respiratory Instructions for CT Examinations of the Lungs: A Hands-on Guide RadioGraphics, July 1, 2008; 28(4): 919 - 931. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. A. Bankier, S. Mehrain, D. Kienzl, M. Weber, M. Estenne, and P. A. Gevenois Regional Heterogeneity of Air Trapping at Expiratory Thin-Section CT of Patients with Bronchiolitis: Potential Implications for Dose Reduction and CT Protocol Planning Radiology, June 1, 2008; 247(3): 862 - 870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Vestbo, W. Anderson, H. O. Coxson, C. Crim, F. Dawber, L. Edwards, G. Hagan, K. Knobil, D. A. Lomas, W. MacNee, et al. Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate End-points (ECLIPSE) Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2008; 31(4): 869 - 873. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. M. Hansell, A. A. Bankier, H. MacMahon, T. C. McLoud, N. L. Muller, and J. Remy Fleischner Society: Glossary of Terms for Thoracic Imaging Radiology, March 1, 2008; 246(3): 697 - 722. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. G. Nicholson and A. Bush Classification of Diffuse Lung Disease in Infants: The Reality of Groups Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 1, 2007; 176(11): 1060 - 1061. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. R. Long High-Resolution Computed Tomography of the Lung in Children with Cystic Fibrosis: Technical Factors Proceedings of the ATS, August 1, 2007; 4(4): 306 - 309. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. A. Torigian, W. B. Gefter, J. D. Affuso, K. Emami, and L. Dougherty Application of an Optical Flow Method to Inspiratory and Expiratory Lung MDCT to Assess Regional Air Trapping: A Feasibility Study Am. J. Roentgenol., March 1, 2007; 188(3): W276 - W280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. A. Bankier, C. Schaefer-Prokop, V. De Maertelaer, D. Tack, P. Jaksch, W. Klepetko, and P. A. Gevenois Air Trapping: Comparison of Standard-Dose and Simulated Low-Dose Thin-Section CT Techniques Radiology, March 1, 2007; 242(3): 898 - 906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T Stone, J H Reynolds, and H J Williams Imaging of large and small airway diseases Imaging, September 1, 2006; 18(3): 139 - 150. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K J Smith and L L Fan Insights into post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans in children. Thorax, June 1, 2006; 61(6): 462 - 463. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Caminati and S. Harari Smoking-related Interstitial Pneumonias and Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. Proceedings of the ATS, January 1, 2006; 3(4): 299 - 306. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W K Chooi and S K Morcos High resolution volume imaging of airways and lung parenchyma with multislice CT Br. J. Radiol., December 1, 2004; 77(suppl_1): S98 - S105. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. S. Birring, C. E. Brightling, P. Bradding, J. J. Entwisle, D. D. Vara, J. Grigg, A. J. Wardlaw, and I. D. Pavord Clinical, Radiologic, and Induced Sputum Features of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Nonsmokers: A Descriptive Study Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 15, 2002; 166(8): 1078 - 1083. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N.L. Muller Advances in imaging Eur. Respir. J., November 1, 2001; 18(5): 867 - 871. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |