In vivo detection of acinar microstructural changes in early emphysema with (3)He lung morphometry.

Purpose: To quantitatively characterize early emphysematous changes in the lung microstructure of current and former smokers with noninvasive helium 3 ((3)He) lung morphometry and to compare these results with the clinical standards, pulmonary function testing (PFT) and low-dose computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the local institutional review board, and all subjects provided informed consent. Thirty current and former smokers, each with a minimum 30-pack-year smoking history and mild or no abnormalities at PFT, underwent (3)He lung morphometry.

Accuracy of emphysema quantification performed with reduced numbers of CT sections.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of emphysema measurements obtained from systematic samples of evenly spaced CT images compared with measurements obtained from the entire scan.

Materials And Methods: Evenly spaced transverse sections from the CT studies of 136 heavy smokers who underwent screening for lung cancer in the National Lung Screening Trial and of 112 subjects who underwent imaging before lung volume reduction surgery were sampled retrospectively. The samples were acquired both by selection of specific numbers of evenly spaced images and by selection of images at specific distance intervals.

Hyperpolarized 3He MR imaging: physiologic monitoring observations and safety considerations in 100 consecutive subjects.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety of hyperpolarized helium 3 ((3)He) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: Local institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Physiologic monitoring data were obtained before, during, and after hyperpolarized (3)He MR imaging in 100 consecutive subjects (57 men, 43 women; mean age, 52 years +/- 14 [standard deviation]).

Outcomes after unilateral lung volume reduction.

Background: For patients with end-stage emphysema undergoing lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), we have preferred a bilateral (BLVRS) approach to achieve maximum benefit with a single procedure. A unilateral (ULVRS) approach has been used in certain patients in whom BLVRS is contraindicated.

Methods: Between January 1993 and December 2006, 43 consecutive patients underwent ULVRS.