Shuko Mashimo1, Shotaro Chubachi2, Akihiro Tsutsumi1, Naofumi Kameyama1, Mamoru Sasaki1, Masahiro Jinzaki3, Hidetoshi Nakamura4, Koichiro Asano5, John J Reilly6, Tomoko Betsuyaku1. 1. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. 2. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. Electronic address: bachibachi472000@live.jp. 3. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. 4. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-0495, Japan. 5. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara-shi, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan. 6. School of Medicine, University of Colorado, 13001 E. 17th Place, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between small pulmonary vessels and extent of emphysema on CT in individual lungs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Forty-nine patients were included. The percentage of cross-sectional area of vessels <5mm2 (%CSA <5) and extent of emphysema were assessed. RESULTS: Less than half of the COPD patients demonstrated an inverse correlation between %CSA <5 and percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%). In the remaining patients, %CSA <5 was homogeneously distributed. CONCLUSION: Not all patients with COPD demonstrated an inverse correlation of the distributions between %CSA <5 and LAA% in individual lungs.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between small pulmonary vessels and extent of emphysema on CT in individual lungs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Forty-nine patients were included. The percentage of cross-sectional area of vessels <5mm2 (%CSA <5) and extent of emphysema were assessed. RESULTS: Less than half of the COPDpatients demonstrated an inverse correlation between %CSA <5 and percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%). In the remaining patients, %CSA <5 was homogeneously distributed. CONCLUSION: Not all patients with COPD demonstrated an inverse correlation of the distributions between %CSA <5 and LAA% in individual lungs.