Abstract:

Objective
To explore the application value of  lung volumes from 64 multi-slice CT (MSCT) images in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and study the  correlation between lung volumes measured by MSCT and pulmonary function test (PFT) results. Methods 24 patients clinically diagnosed with COPD (COPD group) and 22 healthy people (control group) were selected and underwent both chest MSCT scans and PFT within one week. The total lung was scanned at full inspiration and full expiration with MSCT, respectively. The total lung volumes were measured by CT Pulmo software (Siemens, Forchheim, Germany). The quantitative total lung volumes from MSCT images were compared with PFT and SPSS13.0 was applied to assess the correlation.  Results Compared with  control group, the full inspiration volume (Vin) (P<0.05), the full expiration volume (Vex) (P<0.05),and Vex/Vin (P<0.01)were elevated, while Vin－Vex was declined obviously in COPD group (P<0.05).Vin was in positive correlation with total lung capacity (TLC) (r= 0.923 ,P<0.01) and Vex was also in positive correlation
with residual volume (RV)(r= 0.912 ,P<0.05), as well as Vin－Vex with vital capacity (VC) (r=0.763，P<0.01) and Vex/Vin with RV/TLC (r= 0.754 ,P<0.01). The Vex showed best correlation with FEV1% and FEV1/FVC (r=－0.616,P<0.01;r=－0.543，P<0.05). Vin,Vex and Vex/Vin were significantly elevated in patients with COPD  compared with those in control group. Conclusion Lung volumes obtained from MSCT images show a strong correlation with PFT results in patients with COPD. Lung volumes measured from MSCT images can be used to evaluate the pulmonary function in patients with COPD.

Key words: multi-slice spiral CT, lung volume, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasa, pulmonary function