Relationship between diminution of small pulmonary vessels and emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between small pulmonary vessels and extent of emphysema on CT in individual lungs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Forty-nine patients were included. The percentage of cross-sectional area of vessels <5mm2 (%CSA <5) and extent of emphysema were assessed. RESULTS: Less than half of the COPD patients demonstrated an inverse correlation between %CSA <5 and percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%). In the remaining patients, %CSA <5 was homogeneously distributed. CONCLUSION: Not all patients with COPD demonstrated an inverse correlation of the distributions between %CSA <5 and LAA% in individual lungs.