COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY MEASUREMENTS OF OVERINFLATION IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE - EVALUATION OF VARIOUS RADIOGRAPHIC SIGNS

Using computed tomography (CT), the authors determined significant sig ns of overinflation. Both the pulmonary function-tests (PFT) and CT of 74 patients who underwent thoracic surgery for lung cancer (44 with n ormal lung function, 30 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) we re reviewed. The following were correlated with forced expiratory volu me in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC): tracheal index (trans verse/anteroposterior diameter), sterno-aortic distance, thoracic cage ratios (anteroposterior/transverse diameters) at the tracheal carina (TC1) and 5 cm below (TC2); and depth of the azygoesophageal recess an d the presence of intercostal lung bulging (ILB). Significant correlat ions were observed between FEV1/FVC and tracheal index (r = 0.578, p < 0.0001), TC1 (r = -0.523, p < 0.0001), TC2 (r = -0.533, p < 0.0001), and ILB (r = -0.462, p < 0.0001). Correlations were significant but we ak between FEV1/FVC and sterno-aortic distance (r = -0.351, p = 0.0027 ) and depth of the azygoesophageal recess (r = -0.308, p = 0.0085). Re duced tracheal index and increased anteroposterior diameter of the tho racic cage correlated most significantly with a pulmonary function ind ex of chronic airway obstruction.