HIGH-RESOLUTION COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS - CORRELATION WITH PULMONARY-FUNCTION AND ASSESSMENT OF PROGNOSTIC VALUE

Objective: To assess the correlation between HRCT and pulmonary functi on in patients with CF, Further, to assess the prognostic value of HRC T in these patients. Subjects and Methods: Clinical examination, chest radiographs and HRCT scans on 30 CF patients with an average age of 1 7 were scored using established scoring systems, The results were corr elated with FEV1 and FVC both at the time of CT scanning and after 30 months. Results were also correlated with the clinical progress of the patients over the follow-up period, Results: HRCT, chest radiograph a nd clinical examination demonstrated similar correlation (p<0.001) wit h FEV1 and FVC at the time of scanning, HRCT demonstrated the closest correlation with the clinical progress of the patients over the follow -up period and with follow-up pulmonary function, A maximum combined s core for bronchiectasis and emphysema on HRCT seemed to indicate a poo r prognosis. Conclusion: HRCT in CF patients correlates well with pulm onary function at time of scanning and at follow-up, and with clinical progress, There may be a role for CT in the identification of adolesc ent/adult patients who can be expected to need aggressive therapy in t he future.