Relationship between diminution of small pulmonary vessels and emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Publication date: Available online 18 July 2017
Source:Clinical Imaging
Author(s): Shuko Mashimo, Shotaro Chubachi, Akihiro Tsutsumi, Naofumi Kameyama, Mamoru Sasaki, Masahiro Jinzaki, Hidetoshi Nakamura, Koichiro Asano, John J. Reilly, Tomoko Betuyaku
ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between small pulmonary vessels and extent of emphysema on CT in individual lungs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsForty-nine patients were included. The percentage of cross-sectional area of vessels <5mm² (%CSA <5) and extent of emphysema were assessed.ResultsLess than half of the COPD patients demonstrated an inverse correlation between %CSA <5 and percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%). In the remaining patients, %CSA <5 was homogeneously distributed.ConclusionNot all patients with COPD demonstrated an inverse correlation of the distributions between %CSA <5 and LAA% in individual lungs.



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