[Clinical and radiological aspects of ageing of the respiratory tract]

The effects of ageing on the macroscopic appearance of the lung were recognized by Laennec, Andral suggesting that dyspnoea might be its clinical manifestation. At about the same time physiologists demonstrated the negative effects of ageing on the vital capacity, whereas anatomists defined its impact on the lung and thoracic cage structure. The prevalence of dyspnoea increases with ageing but co-morbid disease should always be sought. The prevalence of cough is strongly associated with active and passive smoking. With regard to physical signs, barrel chest and crepitations heard over the dependent lung zones do not necessarily have pathological significance. The usefulness of measuring the forced expiratory time remains to be established in the elderly. There is no characteristic radiological feature of a senile lung. If an X-ray abnormality is discovered during a routine examination, it should be regarded as pathological, but in most cases its detection will not alter management of the patient.