Comparison between conventional interrupted high-resolution CT and volume multidetector CT acquisition in the assessment of bronchiectasis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is superior diagnostic accuracy for the detection and exclusion of bronchiectasis using 16-slice CT of the chest (1 mm) compared with conventional high-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest (10 mm). A prospective study was carried out in patients who were referred for chest CT by a chest physician for the investigation of bronchiectasis over a 1-year period. All scans were performed using a 16-slice CT scanner. In addition to contiguous 1 mm slices, conventional HRCT images (1 mm slice every 10 mm) were prepared. Both datasets were dual read. There were 53 patients with a median age of 62 years (range, 51.5-71.5 years), comprising 14 males and 39 females. 10 of 53 scans had no bronchiectasis in either dataset. 36 patients had bronchiectasis diagnosed on both HRCT and 1 mm scans. Two patients had tubular bronchiectasis on the HRCT scans, which was not confirmed on the 1 mm scans. Five patients had confirmed tubular bronchiectasis on the 1 mm scans, which was not identified on HRCT scans. 40 extra lobes demonstrated bronchiectasis on the 1 mm vs the HRCT scans; of these, half were labelled as definite bronchiectasis on the 1 mm scan. There was a 32% increased confidence with the 1 mm scans compared with conventional HRCT of the chest in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis (p < 0.001). In conclusion, there is improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence for diagnosis and exclusion of bronchiectasis using 16-slice chest CT (1 mm cuts) compared with conventional HRCT of the chest.

Does failed chronic wet cough response to antibiotics predict bronchiectasis?

“…Thus, we used a definition of bronchiectasis based upon radiology findings in the presence of clinical symptoms consistent with this diagnosis. Also, we used HRCT reconstructed images from a MDCT scan as several studies29 30 have shown that a conventional HRCT scan (without MDCT) is less sensitive at detecting bronchiectasis than one using MDCT technology, probably as a result of the fewer slices taken for a HRCT scan. It is worth questioning why 24 patients had a chest CT scan even though their cough resolved after antibiotics.…”

Lung disease in indigenous children

“…54 Also the sensitivity of determining bronchiectasis radiologically is dependent upon the modality used as scans obtained on a multi-detector CT scan are more sensitive than those from a HRCT scan. 55 Thus in children, the term CSLD is used to describe a diagnosis where there are clinical symptoms of BE without HRCT confirmation.…”

Large Airway Diseases

“…The advent of MDCT enables narrower collimation and faster acquisitions during a single breath-hold with near isometric z-axis resolution. Volumetric MDCT using various reconstruction techniques results in significant improvements in the assessment of the presence, extent, and severity of bronchiectasis and in improvements in diagnostic accuracy and confidence for the diagnosis and exclusion of bronchiectasis compared with conventional high-resolution CT. [59][60][61] Bronchiectasis can be diagnosed by the presence of a dilated, nontapered, thick-walled airway extending toward the lung periphery on CT. CT findings vary depending on the precise orientation of airways relative to the scan plane and whether the airway lumen is primarily distended with air or mucus (Figs. 11-13).…”