Assessment of pulmonary function in COPD patients using dynamic digital radiography: A novel approach utilizing lung signal intensity changes during forced breathing.

Objectives: To investigate the association of lung signal intensity changes during forced breathing using dynamic digital radiography (DDR) with pulmonary function and disease severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This retrospective study included 46 healthy subjects and 33 COPD patients who underwent posteroanterior chest DDR examination. We collected raw signal intensity and gray-scale image data.

Outcomes and prognosis of progressive pulmonary fibrosis in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive interstitial lung disease.

Approximately one-third of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases exhibit progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), a clinicopathological condition distinct yet resembling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). PPF in ANCA-positive ILD (ANCA-ILD) is poorly documented. To clarify incidence, predictors of PPF in ANCA-ILD, and their prognostic impact, 56 patients with ANCA-ILD were followed for ≥ 1 year (April 2004 to April 2021).

ATS/JRS/ALAT Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Guidelines for Diagnosis of humidifier lung and summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Background: The ATS/JRS/ALAT Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (GL for HP) were published in 2020. Humidifier lung and summer-type HP are forms of HP, but it is unclear whether they can be diagnosed using GL for HP. This study examined the level of confidence where humidifier lung and summer-type HP can be diagnosed with GL for HP.

Immunoglobulin G4-positive interstitial pneumonia associated with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis.

A 79-year-old former smoking Japanese man was admitted to our hospital with a 2-year history of dry cough and dyspnoea on exertion. High-resolution computed tomography of the chest revealed reticulation and perilobular opacity with bronchial wall thickening and ground-glass opacities (GGOs) in both lungs, in addition to subpleural dense consolidation (pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis-like lesion; PPFE-like lesion) predominantly in the bilateral upper lobes. Serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) was elevated (348 mg/dl).

Vector-field dynamic x-ray (VF-DXR) using optical flow method in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: We assessed the difference in lung motion during inspiration/expiration between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and healthy volunteers using vector-field dynamic x-ray (VF-DXR) with optical flow method (OFM).

Methods: We enrolled 36 COPD patients and 47 healthy volunteers, classified according to pulmonary function into: normal, COPD mild, and COPD severe. Contrast gradient was obtained from sequential dynamic x-ray (DXR) and converted to motion vector using OFM.

New risk scoring system for predicting 3-month mortality after acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) is often fatal. A straightforward staging system for AE-IPF would improve prognostication, guide patient management, and facilitate research. The aim of study is to develop a multidimensional prognostic AE-IPF staging system that uses commonly measured clinical variables.

Novel Artificial Intelligence-based Technology for Chest Computed Tomography Analysis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

There is a growing need to accurately estimate the prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in clinical practice, given the development of effective drugs for treating IPF. To develop artificial intelligence-based image analysis software to detect parenchymal and airway abnormalities on computed tomographic (CT) imaging of the chest and to explore their prognostic importance in patients with IPF. A novel artificial intelligence-based quantitative CT image analysis software (AIQCT) was developed by applying 304 high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans from patients with diffuse lung diseases as the training set.

Vector-Field dynamic X-ray (VF-DXR) using Optical Flow Method.

Objectives: To explore the feasibility of Vector-Field DXR (VF-DXR) using optical flow method (OFM).

Methods: Five healthy volunteers and five COPD patients were studied. DXR was performed in the standing position using a prototype X-ray system (Konica Minolta Inc.

Myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis with a unique imaging presentation of organizing pneumonia: A case report.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) constitutes a group of blood vessel inflammation diseases of autoimmune origin. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) ANCA is closely related to ANCA associated AAV. The MPO-ANCA positive AAV patients have lung involvement at high rates; however, there are only a few reported cases with organizing pneumonia (OP).

Dynamic Chest X-Ray Using a Flat-Panel Detector System: Technique and Applications.

Dynamic X-ray (DXR) is a functional imaging technique that uses sequential images obtained by a flat-panel detector (FPD). This article aims to describe the mechanism of DXR and the analysis methods used as well as review the clinical evidence for its use. DXR analyzes dynamic changes on the basis of X-ray translucency and can be used for analysis of diaphragmatic kinetics, ventilation, and lung perfusion.

Characteristics of non-small-cell lung cancer with interstitial pneumonia: variation in cancer location, histopathology, and frequency of postoperative acute exacerbations in interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been reported to develop in patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP); however, clinical, radiological, and pathological features remain to be elucidated.

Methods: We retrieved the records of 120 consecutive NSCLC patients associated with IP who underwent surgery at Toranomon Hospital between June 2011 and May 2017. We classified the patients into three groups according to NSCLC location using high-resolution computed tomography: group A, within a fibrotic shadow and/or at the interface of a fibrotic shadow and normal lung; group B, within emphysematous tissue and/or at the interface of emphysematous tissue and normal lung; and group C, within normal lung.

Clinical and radiological characteristics of ultrasonic humidifier lung and summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Background: Ultrasonic humidifier lung is a rare form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), and its clinical and radiological features are unclear. This study examined the clinical and radiological characteristics of humidifier lung.

Methods: Data from 18 patients with humidifier lung (mean age, 67.

Effectiveness of pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis associated with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis-like lesions and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Pirfenidone treatment can slow decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, its effects for usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis-like lesions (UIP+PPFELL) and UIP with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (UIP+NSIP) are unclear.

Objectives: The aim of study is to assess pirfenidone effectiveness for UIP+PPFELL and UIP+NSIP.

Detection of Shunting Into Pulmonary Artery on Multidetector Row Computed Tomography Arteriography Before Bronchial Arterial Embolization: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of detecting systemic arterial pulmonary circulation shunts on multidetector row computed tomography arteriography (MDCTA).

Methods: Thirty-five consecutive bronchial artery embolization sessions with preprocedural MDCTA were performed for 32 patients and 35 sessions. The MDCTA studies with computed tomography value of pulmonary trunk visually lower than that of ascending aorta were defined as "diagnostic MDCTA.

Projected lung areas using dynamic X-ray (DXR).

Background: Dynamic X-ray (DXR) provides images of multiple phases of breath with less radiation exposure than CT. The exact images at end-inspiratory or end-expiratory phases can be chosen accurately.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation of the projected lung area (PLA) by dynamic chest X-ray with pulmonary functions.

Pharmacological treatment of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a retrospective study of 88 patients.

Background: Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) is often fatal. Although pharmacological treatments have been studied, outcomes remain poor. This study evaluated the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for AE-IPF.

Miliary opacities in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Pulmonary sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of miliary opacities in bilateral upper lobes predominance.

IgG4-related disease in the differential diagnosis of lung nodules.

IgG4-related disease is an evolving entity of immune-mediated origin. We report a case of IgG4-related disease mimicking lung cancer with pleural dissemination. A 76-year-old male non-smoker was admitted to our hospital because of chest X-ray abnormality.

Clinicoradiological Features of Pulmonary Tuberculosis with Interstitial Pneumonia.

Objective Although rare, pulmonary tuberculosis occasionally develops in patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinicoradiological features of pulmonary tuberculosis associated with IP. Methods In this retrospective, observational, single-center study, the medical charts, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings, and bacteriological test results of patients with IP who also tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were reviewed.

Limited benefit of CT scans in tuberculosis contact tracing.

Objective: The detection of abnormal findings on computed tomography (CT) scans of tuberculosis contacts combined with normal plain radiographs contributes to the early detection of tuberculosis. However, the benefit of the early detection of abnormalities for the prevention of active tuberculosis during follow-up requires evaluation.

Method: We conducted retrospective comparison of the existence of CT scans of tuberculosis contacts without findings of active tuberculosis on plain radiographs at a hospital in Japan.

Development of a CT image case database and content-based image retrieval system for non-cancerous respiratory diseases: Method and preliminary assessment.

Background: To evaluate the benefits of using a CT image case database (DB) with content-based image retrieval system for the diagnosis of typical non-cancerous respiratory diseases.

Methods: Using this DB, which comprised data on 191 cases covering 69 diseases, 933 imaging findings that contributed to differential diagnoses were annotated. Ten test cases were selected.

Chest High-Resolution CT Findings of Microscopic Polyangiitis: A Japanese First Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study.

The lung is one of the organs possibly involved in microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) is commonly found in patients with MPA. The aim of this study was to assess pulmonary lesions in Japanese patients with MPA. This prospective study was based on 144 patients with MPA who were enrolled in the Remission Induction Therapy in Japanese Patients With ANCA-Associated Vasculitis and Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis Study and who underwent chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) imaging at the time of diagnosis during 2011-2014.

Time-resolved quantitative evaluation of diaphragmatic motion during forced breathing in a health screening cohort in a standing position: Dynamic chest phrenicography.

Objective: To assess diaphragmatic motion during forced breathing in a health screening center cohort by time-resolved quantitative analysis using dynamic chest radiography and demonstrate the characteristics and associations with demographics and pulmonary function of participants.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study includes 174 volunteers (99 males; median 57, range 36-93 years old) that underwent dynamic chest radiography with a flat panel detector system during forced breathing in a standing position. We automatically tracked and recorded the positions of the top of the diaphragms and the excursions on images of each participant and calculated peak motion speeds based on the data.