Total lung capacity by plethysmography and high-resolution computed tomography in COPD

• Published in: International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Vol. 7; no. default; pp. 119 - 126
• Main Authors: Garfield, Jamie, Marchetti, Criner, Gaughan, Steiner
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2012; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Aged; Care and treatment; CT imaging; Diagnosis; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Linear Models; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - physiopathology; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Male; Middle Aged; Original Research; Philadelphia; Plethysmography; Predictive Value of Tests; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnostic imaging; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Total Lung Capacity; Vital Capacity; United States; lung capacity; plethysmography; high-resolution computed tomography; gas trapping; lung volume measurement errors
• ISSN: 1178-2005; 1176-9106; 1178-2005
• DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S26419

To characterize and compare total lung capacity (TLC) measured by plethysmography with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and to identify variables that predict the difference between the two modalities. Fifty-nine consecutive patients referred for the evaluation of COPD were retrospectively reviewed. Patients underwent full pulmonary function testing and HRCT within 3 months. TLC was obtained by plethysmography as per American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society standards and by HRCT using custom software on 0.75 and 5 mm thick contiguous slices performed at full inspiration (TLC). TLC measured by plethysmography correlated with TLC measured by inspiratory HRCT (r = 0.92, P < 0.01). TLC measured by plethysmography was larger than that determined by inspiratory HRCT in most patients (mean of 6.46 ± 1.28 L and 5.34 ± 1.20 L respectively, P < 0.05). TLC measured by both plethysmography and HRCT correlated significantly with indices of airflow obstruction (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity [FVC] and FVC%), static lung volumes (residual volume, percent predicted [RV%], total lung capacity, percent predicted [TLC%], functional residual capacity, percent predicted [FRC%], and inspiratory capacity, percent predicted), and percent emphysema. TLC by plethysmography and HRCT both demonstrated significant inverse correlations with diffusion impairment. The absolute difference between TLC measured by plethysmography and HRCT increased as RV%, TLC%, and FRC% increased. Gas trapping (RV% and FRC%) independently predicted the difference in TLC between plethysmography and HRCT. In COPD, TLC by plethysmography can be up to 2 L greater than inspiratory HRCT. Gas trapping independently predicts patients for whom TLC by plethysmography differs significantly from HRCT.