J Korean Radiol Soc.  1996 Nov;35(5):709-714.

Measurement of Lung Volumes: Usefulness of Spiral CT

• Kang HY
• Kwak BK
• Lee SY
• Kim SR
• Lee SH
• Lee CJ
• Park IW

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the usefulness of spiral CT in the measurement of lung volumes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied by both spirometer and spiral CT at full inspiration and expiration inorder to correlate their results, including total lung capacity (TLC), vital capacity (VC) and residual volume(RV). 3-D images were reconstructed from spiral CT, and we measured lung volumes at a corresponding CT window range ; their volumes were compared with the pulmonary function test (paired t-test).
RESULTS
The window range corresponding to TLC was from -1000HU to -150HU (p=0.279, r=0.986), and for VC from -910HU to -800HU (p=0.366,r=0.954) in full-inspiratory CT. The optimal window range for RV in full-expiratory CT was from -1000HU to -450HU (p=0.757, r=0.777), and TLC-VC in full-inspiratory CT was also calculated (p=0.843, r=0.847).
CONCLUSION
Spiral CT at full inspiration can used to lung volumes such as TLC, VC and RV.

Keyword

Lung, CT; Lung, ventilation; Computed tomography (CT), helical

MeSH Terms

Healthy Volunteers
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Lung*
Respiratory Function Tests
Tomography, Spiral Computed*
Total Lung Capacity
Vital Capacity