Progress in the imaging of COPD: quantitative and functional evaluation

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable, and treatable disease, which has caused serious social and economic burden. The main characteristic of COPD is the heterogeneity of disease, manifesting as emphysema, functional small airways disease (fSAD) and large airway diseases. Imaging plays an important role in the evaluation of COPD. In this article, we summarized the recent advances in the imaging of COPD, especially in the quantitative and functional evaluations of the disease. Imaging provides the detailed anatomical, quantitative and function information, illustrates regional heterogeneity and spatial distribution, as well as provides microstructural assessment on the alveolar level. Especially, air trapping index (ATI), parametric response mapping (PRM), gas exchange and texture analysis facilitate the early diagnosis, phenotype classification, severity and therapeutic effect evaluation.