• Matheus Zanon, Débora L Strieder, Adalberto S Rubin, Guilherme Watte, Edson Marchiori, Paulo F G Cardoso, and Bruno Hochhegger.
• 1 Medical Imaging Research Laboratory, LABIMED, Department of Radiology, Pavilhão Pereira Filho Hospital, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Av. Independência 75, Porto Alegre 90020160, Brazil.
• AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2017 Oct 1; 209 (4): 752-756.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of MDCT to assess response to bronchial thermoplasty treatment for severe persistent asthma.Materials And MethodsMDCT data from 26 patients with severe persistent asthma who underwent imaging before and after bronchial thermoplasty were analyzed retrospectively. Changes in the following parameters were assessed: total lung volume, mean lung density, airway wall thickness, CT air trapping index (attenuation < -856 HU), and expiratory-inspiratory ratio of mean lung density (E/I index). Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score changes were also assessed.ResultsMedian total lung volumes before and after bronchial thermoplasty were 2668 mL (range, 2226-3096 mL) and 2399 mL (range, 1964-2802 mL; p = 0.08), respectively. Patients also showed a pattern of obstruction improvement in air trapping values (median before thermoplasty, 14.25%; median after thermoplasty, 3.65%; p < 0.001] and in mean lung density values ± SD (before thermoplasty, -702 ± 72 HU; after thermoplasty, -655 ± 66 HU; p < 0.01). Median airway wall thickness also decreased after bronchial thermoplasty (before thermoplasty, 1.5 mm; after thermoplasty, 1.1 mm; p < 0.05). There was a mean Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire overall score change of 1.00 ± 1.35 (p < 0.001), indicating asthma clinical improvement.ConclusionOur study showed improvement in CT measurements after bronchial thermoplasty, along with Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score changes. Thus, MDCT could be useful for imaging evaluation of patients undergoing this treatment.

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