Detecting airway remodeling in COPD and emphysema using low-dose CT imaging

R. Rudyanto; M. Ceresa; A. Muñoz-Barrutia; C. Ortiz-de-Solorzano

doi:10.1117/12.910901

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23 February 2012 Detecting airway remodeling in COPD and emphysema using low-dose CT imaging

R. Rudyanto, M. Ceresa, A. Muñoz-Barrutia, C. Ortiz-de-Solorzano

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Proceedings Volume 8315, Medical Imaging 2012: Computer-Aided Diagnosis; 83150S (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910901
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In this study, we quantitatively characterize lung airway remodeling caused by smoking-related emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), in low-dose CT scans. To that end, we established three groups of individuals: subjects with COPD (n=35), subjects with emphysema (n=38) and healthy smokers (n=28). All individuals underwent a low-dose CT scan, and the images were analyzed as described next. First the lung airways were segmented using a fast marching method and labeled according to its generation. Along each airway segment, cross-section images were resampled orthogonal to the airway axis. Next 128 rays were cast from the center of the airway lumen in each crosssection slice. Finally, we used an integral-based method, to measure lumen radius, wall thickness, mean wall percentage and mean peak wall attenuation on every cast ray. Our analysis shows that both the mean global wall thickness and the lumen radius of the airways of both COPD and emphysema groups were significantly different from those of the healthy group. In addition, the wall thickness change starts at the 3^rd airway generation in the COPD patients compared with emphysema patients, who display the first significant changes starting in the 2^nd generation. In conclusion, it is shown that airway remodeling happens in individuals suffering from either COPD or emphysema, with some local difference between both groups, and that we are able to detect and accurately quantify this process using images of low-dose CT scans.

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R. Rudyanto, M. Ceresa, A. Muñoz-Barrutia, and C. Ortiz-de-Solorzano "Detecting airway remodeling in COPD and emphysema using low-dose CT imaging", Proc. SPIE 8315, Medical Imaging 2012: Computer-Aided Diagnosis, 83150S (23 February 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910901

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