A quantitative analysis of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease on computed tomography for the assessment of decreased vital capacity.

Background: The results of a quantitative analysis of computed tomography (CT) of interstitial lung disease (ILD) using a computer-aided detection (CAD) technique were correlated with the results of pulmonary function tests.

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between a quantitative analysis of CT of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and non-IPF, which can manifest progressive pulmonary fibrosis and the vital capacity (VC), and to identify indicators for the assessment of a decreased VC.

Material And Methods: A total of 73 patients (46 patients with IPF and 27 patients with non-IPF) were included in this study.

Volume changes of diseased and normal areas in progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease on inspiratory and expiratory computed tomography.

Purpose: The diagnosis of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) using computed tomography (CT) is an important medical practice in respiratory care, and most imaging findings for this disease have been obtained with inspiratory CT. It is possible that some characteristic changes in respiration may be seen in normal and diseased lung in PF-ILD, which may lead to a new understanding of the pathogenesis of interstitial pneumonia, but it has never been examined. In this study, we collected and selected inspiratory and expiratory CT scans performed in pure PF-ILD cases, and evaluated the volumes of diseased and normal lung separately by manual detection and 3-dimensional volumetry to characterize the dynamic features of PF-ILD.

A case of development of autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis during the treatment of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Herein, we report the case of a 73-year-old woman with an occupational history of plaster grinding who developed autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) during the treatment of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Based on the changes in computed tomography imaging findings, poor response to steroid therapy, and markedly elevated KL-6 levels, PAP was suspected and diagnosed by bronchoscopy. Repeated segmental bronchoalveolar lavage under high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy resulted in slight improvement.

Lung iodine mapping images of acute postpartum dyspnea without pulmonary thromboembolism using dual-energy CT.

Background: Postpartum dyspnea is commonly observed, but its cause is often unknown.

Purpose: To investigate postpartum dyspnea, we compared lung iodine mapping (LIM) using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) between postpartum women and women suspected of having pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

Material And Methods: In this retrospective study, 109 women of reproductive age (50 postpartum women, 59 women unrelated to pregnancy) underwent DECT between March 2009 and August 2020.

A quantitative analysis of long-term follow-up computed tomography of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the correlation with the progression and prognosis.

Background: Quantitative analyses of computed tomography (CT) images using computer-aided detection (CAD) are correlated with visual assessments and pulmonary function test findings and might be useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the quantitative analysis of long-term follow-up CT of IPF and the progression and prognosis.

Material And Methods: A total of 48 patients with IPF who received over one year of follow-up CT were included in this study.

Pancreatic Steatosis Evaluated by Automated Volumetric CT Fat Fraction of the Pancreas: Association with Severity in COVID-19 Pneumonia.

This study investigated the relationship between the severity of pneumonia based on chest CT findings and that of pancreatic steatosis assessed using an automated volumetric measurement of the CT fat volume fraction (CT-FVF) of the pancreas, using unenhanced three-dimensional CT in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 patients. The study population consisted of 128 patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection who underwent CT examinations. The CT-FVF of the pancreas was calculated using a histogram analysis for the isolation of fat-containing voxels in the pancreas.

Differential diagnosis of infectious diseases, drug-induced lung injury, and pulmonary infiltration due to underlying malignancy in patients with hematological malignancy using HRCT.

Purpose: To differentiate among infectious diseases, drug-induced lung injury (DILI) and pulmonary infiltration due to underlying malignancy (PIUM) based on high-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) findings from patients with hematological malignancies who underwent chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Materials And Methods: A total of 221 immunocompromised patients with hematological malignancies who had proven chest complications (141 patients with infectious diseases, 24 with DILI and 56 with PIUM) were included. Two chest radiologists evaluated the HRCT findings, including ground-glass opacity, consolidation, nodules, and thickening of bronchovascular bundles (BVBs) and interlobular septa (ILS).

High-resolution CT findings of pulmonary infections in patients with hematologic malignancy: comparison between patients with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Purpose: To evaluate the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of pulmonary infections in patients with hematologic malignancy and compare them between patients with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Materials And Methods: A total of 128 patients with hematologic malignancy and pulmonary infection were included in this study. The diagnoses of the patients consisted of bacterial pneumonia (37 non-HSCT cases and 14 HSCT cases), pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) (29 non-HSCT cases and 11 HSCT cases), and fungal infection other than PCP (20 non-HSCT cases and 17 HSCT cases).

Correlation between pleural tags on CT and visceral pleural invasion of peripheral lung cancer that does not appear touching the pleural surface.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between a sign and visceral pleural invasion (VPI) of peripheral non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that does not appear touching the pleural surface.

Methods: A total of 221 consecutive patients with NSCLC that did not appear touching the pleural surface, ≤ 3 cm in solid tumor diameter, and was surgically resected between January 2009 and December 2015 were included. We focused on the flat distortion of the tumor caused by an arch-shaped linear tag between the tumor and the pleura on CT and named it a bridge tag sign.

Differentiation of pulmonary complications with extensive ground-glass attenuation on high-resolution CT in immunocompromised patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of pulmonary infectious and noninfectious complications with extensive ground-glass attenuation (GGA) in immunocompromised patients.

Materials And Methods: One hundred fifty-two immunocompromised patients with pulmonary complications that showed extensive GGA (> 50% of the whole lung on HRCT) were included in this study. The diagnoses of the 152 patients were as follows: pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), n = 82; drug-induced pneumonia, n = 38; bacterial pneumonia, n = 9; cytomegalovirus pneumonia, n = 6; idiopathic pneumonia syndrome, n = 6; diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), n = 4; fungal infection, n = 3; tuberculosis, n = 2 and pulmonary edema, n = 2.

Differential diagnosis of pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients using high-resolution computed tomography.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients and to assess the usefulness of HRCT in the differential diagnosis of these infections.

Methods: A total of 345 immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infections were included in this study. The diagnoses of the patients consisted of bacterial pneumonia (123 cases), pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) (105 cases), fungal pneumonia (80 cases), tuberculosis (15 cases), cytomegalovirus pneumonia (11 cases), and septic embolism (11 cases).

Infection in Immunocompromised Hosts: Imaging.

Immunocompromised patients are encountered with increasing frequency in clinical practice. In addition to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), therapy for malignant disease, and immune suppression for solid organ transplants, patients are now rendered immunosuppressed by advances in treatment for a wide variety of autoimmune diseases. The number of possible infecting organisms can be bewildering.

Histogram-pattern analysis of the lung perfused blood volume for assessment of pulmonary thromboembolism.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of histograms of lung perfused blood volume (HLPBV) based on the presence of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and the pulmonary embolic burden.

Methods: A total of 168 patients (55 males; mean age, 62.9 years) underwent contrast-enhanced dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) between January 1 2012 and October 31 2014.

The Validation of a No-Drain Policy After Thoracoscopic Major Lung Resection.

Background: The omission of postoperative chest tube drainage may contribute to early recovery after thoracoscopic major lung resection; however, a validation study is necessary before the dissemination of a selective drain policy.

Methods: A total of 162 patients who underwent thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection for lung tumors were enrolled in this study. Alveolar air leaks were sealed with a combination of bioabsorbable mesh and fibrin glue.

Evaluation of a proper cutoff value on quantitative dual-energy perfusion CT for the assessment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Background The cutoff value for assessing the severity of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) using relative volumetric evaluations of dual-energy perfusion computed tomography (DEpCT) is unclear. Purpose To determine the proper cutoff value for determining the severity of PTE using DEpCT volumetry. Material and Methods A total of 185 patients with venous thromboembolism were included in this study, of whom 61 were diagnosed with acute PTE.

Size-capacity mismatch in the lung: a novel predictor for complications after lung cancer surgery.

Background: The aim of the present study was to make a combined pulmonary functional and anatomical assessment using spirometry and computed tomography (CT) to clarify the best predictor for cardiopulmonary complications after thoracoscopic major lung resection for cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospective database of 304 patients undergoing thoracoscopic major lung resection for cancer. The total lung volume (TLV) was measured preoperatively using deep-inspiratory CT by summing the voxels representing -600 to -1024 Hounsfield units.

Assessment of volume reduction effect after lung lobectomy for cancer.

Background: Lung lobectomy results in an unexpected improvement of the remaining lung function in some patients with moderate-to-severe emphysema. Because the lung function is the main limiting factor for therapeutic decision making in patients with lung cancer, it may be advantageous to identify patients who may benefit from the volume reduction effect, particularly those with a poor functional reserve.

Methods: We measured the regional distribution of the emphysematous lung and normal lung using quantitative computed tomography in 84 patients undergoing lung lobectomy for cancer between January 2010 and December 2012.

HRCT findings of small cell lung cancer measuring 30 mm or less located in the peripheral lung.

Purpose: To evaluate the high-resolution CT (HRCT) features of peripherally located small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the HRCT findings of 33 patients with peripherally located SCLC measuring 30 mm or less. The shape and marginal and internal characteristics of the nodules were evaluated.

Does pulmonary resection promote the progression of unresected ground-glass nodules?

Background: The routine use of thin-section, whole-lung computed tomographic scanning helps detect persistent ground-glass nodules (GGNs) co-existing with the target lesion in the underlying lung.

Patients And Methods: The cases of 10 patients with persistent co-existing GGNs detected on whole-lung computed tomography performed prior to surgery for lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed. The co-existing lesions were not resected at the initial procedure.

Added value of lung perfused blood volume images using dual-energy CT for assessment of acute pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: To investigate the added value of lung perfused blood volume (LPBV) using dual-energy CT for the evaluation of intrapulmonary clot (IPC) in patients suspected of having acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this retrospective study. Eighty-three patients suspected of having PE who underwent CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) using a dual-energy technique were enrolled in this study.

The usefulness of a diagnostic method combining high-resolution CT findings and serum markers for cytomegalovirus pneumonia and pneumocystis pneumonia in non-AIDS patients.

Background: The combination of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings and serum markers would be of great value in diagnosing cytomegalovirus pneumonia (CMVP) and pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) considering low invasiveness.

Purpose: To compare the HRCT findings of CMVP and PCP and to evaluate the differences in HRCT findings between patients diagnosed based on pathologic evidence and serum markers.

Material And Methods: Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated the HRCT findings of 21 patients with CMVP and 70 patients with PCP.

Volumetric evaluation of dual-energy perfusion CT by the presence of intrapulmonary clots using a 64-slice dual-source CT.

Background: Dual-energy perfusion CT (DEpCT) directly represents the iodine distribution in lung parenchyma and low perfusion areas caused by intrapulmonary clots (IPCs) are visualized as low attenuation areas.

Purpose: To evaluate if volumetric evaluation of DEpCT can be used as a predictor of right heart strain by the presence of IPCs.

Material And Methods: One hundred and ninety-six patients suspected of having acute pulmonary embolism (PE) underwent DEpCT using a 64-slice dual-source CT.

Dual-energy perfusion CT of non-diseased lung segments using dual-source CT: correlation with perfusion SPECT.

Purpose: To determine the utility of dual-energy perfusion CT (DEpCT) of non-diseased lung segments, using dual-source CT, in comparison with perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Materials And Methods: 28 patients (18 male and 10 female; mean age 63 years; age range 18-86 years) underwent DEpCT and SPECT within a 3-day interval. The presence and location of perfusion defects in each segment of the lungs were evaluated.