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Comparative Study
. 2001 Aug;38(5):413-22.
doi: 10.1081/jas-100001496.

Low-attenuation areas of the lungs on high-resolution computed tomography in asthma

F Mitsunobu  1 , T Mifune, K Ashida, Y Hosaki, H Tsugeno, M Okamoto, S Harada, Y Tanizaki
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Low-attenuation areas of the lungs on high-resolution computed tomography in asthma

F Mitsunobu et al. J Asthma. 2001 Aug.

Abstract

To investigate the low-attenuation areas of the lungs (LAA) in asthma, we compared the mean lung density (MLD) and the LAA in 22 asthmatics (12 ex-smokers and 10 nonsmokers) and 13 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by high-resolution computed tomography. The MLD and the relative area of the lung with attenuation values lower than -950 Hounsfield Units at full inspiration (inspiratory RA950) were significantly different in nonsmoking asthmatics compared to patients with COPD and asthmatics with a smoking history. The MLD and the RA950 correlated significantly with the FEV1 in all groups and with the DL(CO) in patients with COPD and asthmatics with a smoking history but not in nonsmoking asthmatics. We concluded that the LAA in asthmatics with a smoking history indicates the presence of emphysema, but in nonsmoking asthmatics it reflects hyperinflation and nonemphysematous expiratory airflow limitation rather than emphysematous lesions.

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