Lung function, CT-scan and X-ray in upper airway obstruction due to thyroid goitre

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Upper airway obstruction can be caused by various conditions, including goiters.
• Assessing the severity of obstruction is crucial for clinical management.
• Lung function tests and radiological imaging are commonly used diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical reliability of routine lung function tests (maximal flows, resistance) and radiological images (CT-scan, X-ray).
• To compare the information provided by these methods in patients with upper airway obstruction due to goiter.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 28 female patients with goiter and no pulmonary disorders.
• Lung function tests included maximal expiratory and inspiratory flow-volume curves and airway resistance.
• Radiological imaging involved CT-scans and X-rays performed during apnoea at functional residual capacity.

Main Results:

• Lung function tests showed significant correlations with each other.
• CT-scans evaluated tracheal cross-sectional area, while X-rays measured tracheal diameters.
• No significant correlation was found between lung function tests and radiological indices, except for airway resistance and CT-scan measurements.

Conclusions:

• Routine lung function tests and CT-scans yield non-comparable information on the degree of airway obstruction in goiter patients.
• Neither method alone can reliably assess the severity of obstruction.
• Further research may be needed to establish optimal diagnostic strategies.