Korean J Intern Med.  2019 Mar;34(2):335-343. 10.3904/kjim.2017.287.

Evaluation of high resolution computed tomography findings of cystic fibrosis

• Sasihuseyinoglu AS
• AltıntaÅŸ DU
• Soyupak S
• Dogruel D
• Yılmaz M
• Serbes M
• Duyuler G

• KMID: 2441013
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2017.287

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Morphological changes due to lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) were evaluated using high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and the HRCT scores obtained using the Bhalla scoring system were correlated with those obtained using clinical and laboratory indicators.
METHODS
Medical records of 28 children with CF who underwent chest CT in Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Cukurova University Balcali Hospital between March 2011 and January 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data and physical examination, respiratory cultures, pulmonary function tests, and chest HRCT findings were evaluated. Patients were divided into the following two groups according to their forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁) values: normal FEV₁ (≥ 80% of predicted values) and low FEV₁ ( < 80% of predicted values). Deep throat or sputum cultures were evaluated for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) and other bacteria. HRCT scans were scored using the Bhalla scoring system.
RESULTS
No significant correlation was found between the Bhalla scores and sex, age group, or height percentiles. Significant relationships were found between the Bhalla score and weight (p = 0.036) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.032) percentiles below the third percentile, bacterial growth in the sputum/deep throat cultures (p = 0.009), and presence of PsA (p = 0.004). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the Bhalla score and FEV₁ (r = −0.315, p = 0.0272), forced vital capacity (FVC; r = −0.381, p = 0.0178), forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (r = −0.229, p = 0.0431), and BMI (r = −3.368, p = 0.050).
CONCLUSIONS
Chest HRCT is an important diagnostic tool for the pulmonary evaluation of children with CF.

Keyword

Cystic fibrosis; Child; Computed tomography; Pulmonary evaluation

MeSH Terms

Allergy and Immunology
Bacteria
Body Mass Index
Child
Cystic Fibrosis*
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Lung Diseases
Medical Records
Pharynx
Physical Examination
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Respiratory Function Tests
Retrospective Studies
Sputum
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vital Capacity