Comparison of High-Resolution Computed Tomography with Pulmonary Function Testing in Symptomatic Smokers
JIRAPORN SRINAKARIN, MD* JUREERAT THAMMAROJ, MD*, WATCHARA BOONSA WAT, MD**
Affiliation : * Departments of Radiology, ** Departments of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Purpose : To compare high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of lungs with pulmo nary function in smokers diagnosed with emphysema.
Materials and Methods : The authors retrospectively reviewed 17 patients with a history of smoking and dyspnea, who underwent HRCT of the lungs and pulmonary function testing. HRCT scores were determined and compared to pulmonary function (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and DLCO).
Results : The HRCT of all 17 patients (17117; 100%) were typical of centrilobular emphy sema; with a mean score of 12.88±9.18 (range, 4 to 34). Decreased FEV1 (<80% predicted) was found in 8 patients (47%), decreased FEV1/FVC (<70% predicted) in 13 patients (76%) and decreased DLCO (<80% predicted) in 3 patients (18%). The severity of emphysema revealed by HRCT was inversely correlated with the pulmonary function test: DLCO (r=-0.842, p=O.OOO) and FEVl (r=-0.597, p= O.Ql 1), but not FEV1/FVC (r=-0.400, p=0.112).
Conclusion : HRCT allows detection of emphysema in symptomatic smokers even when pulmonary function appears to be normal. The greater the involvement of emphysema revealed by the HRCT, the poorer the pulmonary function. The authors, therefore, conclude that HRCT is the most sensitive modality for diagnosing early emphysema in smokers with dyspnea.
Keywords : Emphysema, High-Resolution Computed Tomography, Pulmonary Function Test, Smoker
