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Imaging of Bronchiectasis

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Bronchiectasis

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Abstract

Diagnostic imaging of bronchiectasis is pivotal in detection and characterization of bronchiectasis. Radiography and bronchography have been pioneers in bronchiectasis assessment, though they suffer from low sensitivity in early phase of disease. Computed tomography (CT) is the current reference standard for noninvasive imaging of bronchial abnormalities. CT offers high-resolution images (<1 mm) with three-dimensional display, which is particularly useful for characterization of bronchial abnormalities since the early stage, as well as functional bronchial information and detection of associated parenchymal signs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a cutting-edge technique that is under investigation for multiparametric characterization of bronchiectasis, without ionizing radiation exposure. Etiologies of bronchiectasis are heterogeneous; notably diagnostic imaging might suggest morphological descriptors for specific diagnosis in a number of cases. Radiological scores by HRCT are complementary in the management of bronchiectasis; the integration with clinical parameters is mandatory to define the disease activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Radiology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Mario Silva, Gianluca Milanese & Nicola Sverzellati

Authors
  1. Mario Silva
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  2. Gianluca Milanese
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  3. Nicola Sverzellati
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Correspondence to Nicola Sverzellati .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine, University of Dundee , Dundee, United Kingdom

    James Chalmers

  2. Hospital Vall D’Hebron, Vall D’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) Respiratory Disease Department, Barcelona, Spain

    Eva Polverino

  3. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan Internal Medicine Department, Respiratory Unit and Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Stefano Aliberti

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Silva, M., Milanese, G., Sverzellati, N. (2018). Imaging of Bronchiectasis. In: Chalmers, J., Polverino, E., Aliberti, S. (eds) Bronchiectasis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61452-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61452-6_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61452-6

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