Eun-Ah Park MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Jin Mo Goo MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Infinitt Healthcare Co., Ltd

Sang Joon Park, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyun Ju Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chang Hyun Lee MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Editorial Consultant, Siemens AG, Korea

Chang Min Park, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jong Hyo Kim PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the potential of xenon ventilation CT in quantitative and visual analysis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. .After informed consent was obtained, 32 patients with COPD underwent pre-xenon CT, two-phase xenon ventilation CT at wash-in (WI) and wash-out (WO) period, and pulmonary function tests (PFT). For quantitative analysis, PFT results were compared using density parameters from pre-xenon images and xenon parameters from xenon enhanced images at three different areas at each phase: whole lung, normal attenuated lung, and low attenuated lung (LAL). For visual analysis, ventilation patterns were categorized according to the pattern of xenon attenuation in the area of structural abnormalities compared to normal-looking background on a per lobe basis: pattern A (WI / WO), iso or high / iso; pattern B, iso or high / high; pattern C, low / low; pattern D, low / iso or high.

Among various density and xenon parameters, xenon parameters of the LAL at the WO period showed the best inverse correlation with PFT results (p <0.0001). For visual analysis, while emphysema (n=99) commonly showed patterns A (81%) and B (15%), airway diseases such as obstructive bronchiolitis (n=5), bronchiectasis (n=2), and areas with mucus plug (n=1) or centrilobular nodules (n=5) showed patterns D (60%) and C (20%).

WI and WO xenon ventilation CT is feasible for the simultaneous regional evaluation of structural and ventilation abnormalities both quantitatively and qualitatively in patients with COPD.

Xenon ventilation CT of the whole lung using the dual energy technique may provide information regarding regional ventilatory status in addition to structural abnormalities in patients with COPD.

Park, E, Goo, J, Park, S, Lee, H, Lee, C, Park, C, Kim, J, Xenon Ventilation CT Using the Dual Energy Technique in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Quantitative and Visual Ventilation Pattern Analysis.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9009801.html