USE OF QUANTITATIVE CT TO PREDICT POSTOPERATIVE LUNG-FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG-CANCER

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of quantitative computed tomogr aphy (CT) for predicting postoperative lung function in patients with lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative spirometry and conven tional CT of the chest were performed in 38 patients. A postprocessing CT program was applied to quantitate the volume of whole-lung parench yma with attenuations of -500 to -910 HU; this was defined as total fu nctional lung volume (TFLV). The regional functional lung volume (RFLV ) of the lobes or lung to be resected was quantitated separately. CT-p redicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were derived by multiplying the preoperat ive spirometry values by (1 - RFLV/TFLV). RESULTS: CT-predicted values correlated well with postoperatively measured results (FEV,: r = .93, P < .001; FVC: r = .86, P < .001) in patients who underwent pneumonec tomy or lobectomy, regardless of the patient's preoperative ventilatio n status. CONCLUSION: This method is effective in the prediction of po stoperative FEV1 and FVC in patients undergoing pulmonary resection.