Objective.CT is able to precisely define the pathological process in COPD. There are a number of previous articles discussing the distribution of emphysema and its connection with pulmonary function tests. However, the results obtained by the researchers are not identical.Purpose.To assess relationships between emphysema and pulmonary function test parameters in COPD patients.Materials and methods.Fifty-nine patients diagnosed to have COPD underwent chest CT examinations and pulmonary function tests.For the quantitative assessment, percentages of low attenuation volume LAV 950 HU (%) of a both lungs, the right lung, the left lung, and each lobe were obtained. Quantitative CT measurements were compared with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), the ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) and total lung capacity (TLC).Results.Except for the right middle lobe and the right upper lobe, respectively, all the quantitative CT measurements showed weak to moderate negative correlations with diffusing capacity (DLco) (r = –0.35 to –0.61, p < 0.05) and weak positive correlations with TLC (r = 0.34 to 0.44, p < 0.05). Group analysis indicated that LAV–950 HU (%) values of both lungs, right lung, left lung, and each lobe, except for right middle lobe, were increased in patients with GOLD stages 3 and 4 of COPD compared to GOLD stages 1 and 2 (p < 0.05).Conclusion.CT measurements of emphysema are significantly related to pulmonary function tests results, particularly DLco.

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SummaryMaterials and methods: intracardiac masses are described as abnormal structures inside the heart or immediately concerned to the heart [1] and can be classified as a cardiac tumor, metastasis, ,,thrombus in situ"/,,embolus in transit", vegetation or iatrogenic material [2,3]. The precise diagnosis is essential due to the necessity of the expedient well-timed treatment. We report a case of 58 year old woman with recently diagnosed left lung adenocarcinoma, admitted to the emergency department with pulmonary embolism. The case report presented here describes the findings of transthoracical echocardiography that suggested a right atrial mass -thrombus versus embolus. However, the subsequent CMR imaging helped to differentiate a true right atrial mass from a prominent crista terminalis. Conclusions: the cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable diagnostic method for the differentiation of the intracardiac masses when the transthoracical and/or transesophagial echocardiography is inadequate in some clinical cases. This noninvasive, cost-effective imaging technique has a larger field of view and differentiates various conditions of the heart therefore the expedient well-timed treatment could be applied.