• Hyun Joo Lee, Joon Beom Seo, Eun Jin Chae, Namkug Kim, Choong Wook Lee, Yeon-Mok Oh, and Sang Do Lee.
• Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 388-1, Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea. wberry@naver.com
• Eur J Radiol. 2011 Dec 1; 80 (3): e531-5.

ObjectivesTo assess the tracheal morphologic changes using CT in COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease) patients and to assess correlation between them and PFT (pulmonary function test) and CT parameters.Materials And MethodsNinety-two healthy individuals and 115 patients with COPD who underwent volumetric inspiration/expiration CT scanning were included. The Lsag, Lcor, and the tLA were measured. The TI was defined as the ratio of Lcor/Lsag. The tracheal morphologic changes (tLA, TI, and collapsibility) were compared in healthy individuals and COPD. In COPD patients, correlation of the tracheal morphologic change with PFT and CT parameters was assessed.ResultsThe TIs in the COPD patients were significantly lower than those in the control group (0.80±0.15 vs. 0.88±0.11, Mean±SD) (p<0.01). In COPD patients, TI correlated with FEV1 (r=0.29, p=<0.01), FEV1/FVC (r=0.26, p<0.01), and the GOLD stage (r=-0.26, p<0.01). TI showed significant correlation with EI on both inspiration and expiration CT (r=-0.19, p=0.04 and r=-0.23, p=0.02), MLD on expiration CT (r=0.27, p<0.01), CT-ATI (r=0.34, p<0.01), and with LV on expiration CT (r=-0.25, p<0.01).ConclusionAmong the tracheal morphologic changes, the most significant change in COPD patients compared with that in the control group, was the TI. In COPD patients, the tracheal morphologic change showed clinically significant correlation with severity of emphysema and CT indices.Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

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