Update on the application of chest computed tomography scanning to cystic fibrosis
- 1 November 2006
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine
- Vol. 12 (6), 433-439
- https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mcp.0000245717.82009.ca
Abstract
To summarize the role of chest computed tomography as a tool to evaluate cystic fibrosis lung disease, and to describe what abnormalities can be detected using computed tomography and how computed tomography can be used in clinical practice. Pulmonary function tests are only an indirect measure of lung structure, and are insensitive to localized and early structural abnormalities. Computed tomography is able to detect small areas with localized severe damage. The differentiation between normal and abnormal on computed tomography is relatively easy. In half of cystic fibrosis patients, the information obtained from pulmonary function tests is discordant with the information obtained from computed tomography. Cystic fibrosis patients show lung inflammation and infection starting early in life. This leads to irreversible structural lung damage such as bronchiectasis and air trapping. Cystic fibrosis lung disease varies widely between patients. The primary aim of therapy is to prevent structural damage and to conserve lung function. Adequate monitoring of cystic fibrosis lung disease is paramount to tailor treatment to a patient's need. Computed tomography is currently the best tool to monitor lung structure, and pulmonary function tests are the best to monitor lung function.Keywords
This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
- Longitudinal Development of Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection and Lung Disease Progression in Children With Cystic FibrosisJAMA, 2005
- Early airway infection, inflammation, and lung function in cystic fibrosisArchives of Disease in Childhood, 2002
- Early pulmonary infection, inflammation, and clinical outcomes in infants with cystic fibrosis*Pediatric Pulmonology, 2001
- Longitudinal Assessment ofPseudomonas aeruginosain Young Children with Cystic FibrosisThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2001
- Quantitation of Inflammatory Responses to Bacteria in Young Cystic Fibrosis and Control PatientsAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 1999
- BRONCHIECTASISRadiologic Clinics of North America, 1998
- Cystic Fibrosis in ChildrenJournal of Thoracic Imaging, 1996
- High Resolution CT and Bronchography in the Assessment of BronchiectasisActa Radiologica, 1991
- Ultrafast computerized tomography of the chest in cystic fibrosis: A new scoring systemPediatric Pulmonology, 1991
- High-resolution computed tomography in pulmonary cystic fibrosisThe British Journal of Radiology, 1989