[The contribution of radioimaging to the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Part II. Contribution of imaging in the investigation of comorbidities associated with COPD: cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, skeletal muscle and nervous system disorders].

Among the diseases frequently associated with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) count the pulmonary neoplasm, severe cardiovascular diseases, muscle wasting, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus etc. These conditions are often diagnosed when already in an advanced stage, although their presence may seriously affect the patient's quality of life and prognostic. Under certain circumstances the early usage of imagistic techniques in addition to the pulmonary functional tests leads not only to the early adopting of an adequate treatment that considers the comorbidity, but offers also a better understanding of the COPD's physiopathology, of its--and of the associated diseases' evolution.

[The role of radio-imaging techniques in the investigation of the pathophysiologic mechanisms in chronic obstructive bronchopneumonia. Part I. Role of imaging in the investigation of respiratory lesions caused by COPD].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease (4-6% of adults), with insidious onset and slow progression, which is why the disease remains under diagnosed especially in early stages. Most patients get medical attention in stage III, IV of disease, according to GOLD classification (Global Obstructive Lung Diseases). According to GOLD, priority in staging the disease severity is the evaluation of respiratory function, the FEV1.