High-resolution CT in the acute exacerbation of cystic fibrosis: evaluation of acute findings, reversibility of those findings, and clinical correlation.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria in bronchiectasis: prevalence and patient characteristics

“…The presence of bronchiectasis was defined using established criteria [15,16]. The severity of bronchial dilatation (0: normal; 1: 1-26dia-meter of adjacent artery; 2: 2-36diameter of adjacent artery; 3: .36diameter of adjacent artery), and of bronchial wall thickening (0: normal; 1: ,0.56diameter of adjacent artery; 2: 0.5-16diameter of adjacent artery; 3: .16diameter of adjacent artery) was scored for each lobe using previously described criteria [14,17]. The extent of bronchiectasis [11], mucus plugging [18], sacculations/abscesses [11], mosaic perfusion [18] and collapse or consolidation were assessed on a lobar basis and the number of segments involved recorded.…”

Computed tomographic imaging of the airways: relationship to structure and function

“…Intervention studies designed to measure changes in the airways and parenchyma, as assessed by CT, are now possible and may provide important insights in this increasingly prevalent disease. Although there are some data on the CT appearance of airway changes during exacerbations of bronchiectasis [98] and CF [99,100], such knowledge is largely lacking in asthma and COPD, and this represents an important topic of future investigation in human and/or animal models. Another fruitful area for future studies is a determination of the minimal number of CT images that are required to adequately assess airway dimensions in COPD.…”

“…Qualitative studies Qualitative CT studies have been performed since 1989, and HRCT airway scoring systems are the most frequently used methods to assess airway abnormalities in CF [35,37,59,60,99,100,102,105,. All of the systems consist of a composite score for subjective estimates of a number of features on CT scans, which include bronchiectasis, airway wall thickening, mucus plugging, etc.…”

Automated CT Scan Scores of Bronchiectasis and Air Trapping in Cystic Fibrosis

“…In numerous studies, expert reader CT scan scores have been shown to correlate with other CF lung disease parameters, including clinical status and lung function. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Although expert visual scoring such as the Brody scoring system 16 includes more features of CF lung disease than can be evaluated by automated software, it is time consuming and limited by the number of expert readers available. In contrast, automated computer analysis does not require specially trained observers, avoids observer bias and variability, offers better standardization, and function measures, and sputum markers of infl ammation in children with CF.…”