[Cystic fibrosis and computed tomography of the lungs].

[Cystic fibrosis and computed tomography of the lungs]. Radiologe. 2020 Jul 03;: Authors: Bischoff A, Weinheimer O, Eichinger M, Stahl M, Sommerburg O, Kauczor HU, Mall MA, Wielpütz MO Abstract With its high detail of morphological changes in lung parenchyma and airways as well as the possibilities for three-dimensional reconstruction, computed tomography (CT) represents a solid tool for the diagnosis and follow-up in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). Guidelines for standardized CT image acquisition in CF patients are still missing. In the mostly younger CF patients, an important issue is the well-considered use of radiation in CT imaging. The use of intravenous contrast agent is mainly restricted to acute emergency diagnostics. Typical morphological findings in CF lung disease are bronchiectasis, mucus plugging, or signs of decreased ventilation (air trapping) which can be detected with CT even in early stages. Various scoring systems that have become established over time are used to grade disease severity and for structured follow-up, e.g., in clinical research studies. With the technical development of CT, a number of postprocessing software tools were developed to help clinical reporting and overcome interreader differences for a standardized quantification. As an imaging modality free of ionizing radiation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming increasingly important in the diagnosis and follow-up of CF p...
Source: Der Radiologe - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Radiologe Source Type: research