Diagnostic yield of computed tomography and densitometric measurements of the lung in thoracoscopically-defined idiopathic spontaneous pneumothorax

In the present study. the diagnostic yield of high resolution computed tomo graphy (HRCT) is evaluated in patients with thoracoscopically-verified idio pathic spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). Visual assessment as well as densitom etry of lung parenchyma was performed. In eight of the 20 prospectively-eva luated SP patients, emphysema:like (EL) changes such as blebs and bullae co uld be detected. The SP patients with EL changes were significantly older a nd were more heavy smokers. Spirometrically-controlled CT lung densitometry showed no differences between the patient group with or without these EL c hanges. Comparing the densitometric measurements of the patient group with a healthy control group no significant differences in densitometry between both groups were found. In conclusion, this study confirms that HRCT is a reliable method of detect ing blebs and bullae in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. Furthermore CT lung densitometry revealed no parenchymal abnormalities or signs of air trapping in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. (C) 2001 HARCOURT PUBL ISHERS LTD.