Automatic airway analysis on multidetector computed tomography in cystic fibrosis: correlation with pulmonary...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Pulmonology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting lungs, leading to progressive airway damage.
• Accurate assessment of airway dimensions is crucial for monitoring CF progression and treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the fully automatic quantification of airway dimensions on chest multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
• To correlate airway parameters with lung function, specifically predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%).

Main Methods:

• MDCT data from CF patients (children and adults) and controls were analyzed using dedicated software.
• Quantified parameters included total airway diameter (TD), lumen area (LA), and wall thickness (WT).
• Pulmonary function tests (FEV1%) were performed and correlated with MDCT findings in a generation-based analysis.

Main Results:

• CF patients exhibited significantly increased TD and WT compared to controls across multiple airway generations.
• Lumen area (LA) remained unchanged in CF patients.
• In adult CF patients, significant negative correlations were observed between TD, LA, WT and FEV1% in intermediate airways (5th-7th generation).

Conclusions:

• Automatic airway analysis effectively quantifies CF-specific pathologies like airway dilatation and wall thickening.
• Findings suggest a shift in airflow resistance to intermediate airways in chronic CF.
• Objective parameters (TD, LA, WT) are valuable for assessing and monitoring CF airway disease.