RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 New algorithm using chest computed tomographic imaging characteristics for the differential diagnosis in female patients with pneumothorax
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P655
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Yuki Ko
A1 Keisuke Anan
A1 Kazunori Tobino
A1 Takahiro Haga
A1 Masatoshi Kurihara
A1 Takeshi Johkoh
A1 Kuniaki Seyama
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P655.abstract
AB RATIONALE: In female patients, the etiologies of spontaneous pneumothorax are more various than those in male, because diseases specific to females exist. To our knowledge, there have been no reports concerning the usefulness of the chest computed tomographic (CT) findings in female pneumothorax patients in differentiation of potential causes.AIMS: To make a useful diagnostic algorithm for potential causes of female pneumothorax.METHODS: First, we retrospectively reviewed the characteristics of the chest CT findings in 123 consecutive female pneumothorax patients in whom the definitive diagnosis was obtained by pathological analysis or genetic testing. Second, using the clinical and CT imaging characteristics obtained by the first examination, we made a diagnostic algorithm for potential causes of pneumothorax. Finally, the algorithm was validated in another 141 female pneumothorax patients.RESULTS: On the first examination, the number of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, catamenial pneumothorax, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis were 47, 42, 19 and 15, respectively. The important CT findings for differentiation of these diseases were; side of pneumothorax, number or extent of pulmonary cysts, dependent zone of pulmonary cysts, and the presence of pulmonary cysts abutting the proximal portions pulmonary blood vessels, and we made a diagnostic algorithm using those four findings. The validation study of the algorithm with another 141 female pneumothorax revealed high diagnostic accuracy (84.4%).CONCLUSION: In female pneumothorax patients, our new diagnostic algorithm for potential causes may be useful.