Current Approaches to Assessing Chronic and Acute Airway Diseases

Abstract

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) using thin collimation during a single breath hold has become the best imaging technique for assessing airway diseases. Volumetric high-resolution data sets provide a precise morphologic evaluation of both proximal and distal airways. The term ‘airway diseases’ covers acute and chronic inflammatory disorders as well as the fibrotic sequelae involving proximal and/or distal airways. Large-airway diseases include tracheal disorders, bronchiectasis, and broncholithiasis. Small-airway diseases include all infectious or inflammatory diseases involving the bronchioles. MDCT can also play a role in assessing obstructive lung diseases, a group of diffuse conditions associated with chronic airflow obstruction that includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and obliterative bronchiolitis.