Multidetector computed tomographic imaging in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: emphysema and airways assessment

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex syndrome encompassing potentially overlapping diseases such as pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and small airways disease. The management of COPD relies on distribution and severity of those processes, which clinically can manifest similarly. Relative contribution and severity of each of those pathologic changes can be assessed using qualitative and quantitative analysis of computed tomographic imaging data. Studies are under way to establish potential links among the imaging, clinical, and genetic manifestations of COPD.

Keywords: Airway imaging; COPD; CT; Emphysema; Phenotyping.