26 Jul Use of CT Analysis, Not Just Airflow Limitations, in COPD Assessment
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) isn’t a “one-symptom” disease. It used to be thought that COPD was mainly a function of airflow limitation; now it’s well accepted that the disease is made up of a combination of causes and symptoms. Airflow limitation, represented by a measurement called FEV1, used to be the main tool for assessing COPD. Now, not only is FEV1 measured, but also imaging is studied, especially CT (Micro X-ray Computed Tomography). Analysis of a CT-generated three-dimensional perspective of an object’s interior, such as the inside of a lung, can not only help evaluate a patient’s status but can help predict acute exacerbations and aid in a patient’s prognosis.
Information for this article was obtained from Springer Link.
Anita
Posted at 16:14h, 26 JulyI’m at Gold 2 for COPD and haven’t had this lung CT scan. Should anyone diagnosed with COPD have one? What does the scan measure?
Thanks,
Anita
PERF
Posted at 13:30h, 28 JulyCT scans are increasingly useful for COPD patients. Guidelines are now recommending CT scans for people with smoking histories to look for early evidence of lung cancer…when cure is more likely. Further, all COPD is not the same. CT scans can tell, for example, if emphysema is present, how much is present and where it is located. It also can determine whether thickened airways are present, that might indicate chronic bronchitis. It is important to realize that these days most CT scans of the chest are “low dose”: a much lower radiation dose than used in years past.
~ Rich Casaburi
Whylene McCray
Posted at 12:02h, 04 AugustCT Scans are great, I take one q six months..I had puemonia, COPD, and Lung Cancer..
feeling much better now..that was 2013.. The spot was seen on my lung in 2010..