Imaging of small airways and emphysema

Rachael M Edwards; Gregory Kicska; Rodney Schmidt; Sudhakar N J Pipavath

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.02.013

Imaging of small airways and emphysema

Clin Chest Med. 2015 Jun;36(2):335-47, x. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2015.02.013. Epub 2015 Apr 1.

Authors

Rachael M Edwards¹, Gregory Kicska², Rodney Schmidt³, Sudhakar N J Pipavath²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: edwards5@uw.edu.
² Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
³ Department of Pathology, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

PMID: 26024608
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2015.02.013

Abstract

High-resolution chest computed tomography (CT) is one of the most useful techniques available for imaging bronchiolitis because it shows highly specific direct and indirect imaging signs. The distribution and combination of these various signs can further classify bronchiolitis as either cellular/inflammatory or fibrotic/constrictive. Emphysema is characterized by destruction of the airspaces, and a brief discussion of imaging findings of this class of disease is also included. Typical CT findings include destruction of airspace, attenuated vasculatures, and hyperlucent as well as hyperinflated lungs.

Keywords: Bronchiolitis; Emphysema; High-resolution computed tomography; Small airway disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bronchiolitis / diagnosis*
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Imaging*
Humans
Pulmonary Emphysema / diagnosis*
Radiography, Thoracic / methods*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*