Open AccessExpiratory CT scan in patients with normal inspiratory CT scan: a finding of obliterative bronchiolitis and other causes of bronchiolar obstruction
Author(s) -
Michele Gaeta,
Fabio Minutoli,
Giuseppe Girbino,
Alessandra Murabito,
Caterina Benedetto,
Rosario Contiguglia,
Paolo Ruggeri,
Salvatore Privitera
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
multidisciplinary respiratory medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.72
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2049-6958
pISSN - 1828-695X
DOI - 10.4081/mrm.2013.542
Subject(s) - medicine , air trapping , radiology , bronchiolitis , computed tomography , bronchography , bronchial obstruction , airway obstruction , lung , asthma , surgery , airway , respiratory system
Expiratory CT scan is usually obtained as supplement to normal inspiratory CT scan to recognize air-trapping, which is expression of small airways obstruction. In some patients the air-trapping may be the only sign of an early-stage small airways disease in an otherwise normal lung. The purpose of this article is to illustrate pathologic conditions, namely obliterative bronchiolitis, in which expiratory CT scan can be abnormal despite normal inspiratory CT examination, and to highlight indications for this technique in patients with clinical and functional suspect of bronchiolar obstruction.