Quantitative computed tomography in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Resident Doctor Nguyen Van Anh - Radiologist - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a disease characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. This airflow limitation is often progressive and is associated with an abnormally emergent inflammatory response from the lungs to small and toxic gaseous molecules.

COPD is a very common disease today, we can completely prevent and successfully treat this disease thanks to advanced and modern medical methods. The hallmark of COPD is airflow limitation that is persistent, progressive, and often associated with a chronic inflammatory response within the patient's airways and lung parenchyma, due to particulate matter. and toxic gases. Exacerbations along with comorbidities also cause the disease to worsen in each individual.
According to research, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is common in men with an incidence of 4-6%, and in women with a prevalence of 1-3%, this is a disease with a mortality rate. high.
WHO predicts that by 2020, COPD will be the third leading cause of death among all causes of death in medicine and the fifth in terms of burden of disease for the community worldwide. world.
Vietnam is a country with a relatively high rate of people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Asia Pacific region, in 2010 we had statistics of 4.2% of the population. are over 40 years old.

Until now, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is still evaluated as pulmonary emphysema and/or obstructive bronchitis disease.
In it, obstructive bronchitis is a chronic inflammation and swelling that makes the inside of the breathing tubes (airways) smaller than normal. This narrowing prevents air from getting out of the lungs well and easily.
Emphysema, also known as alveolar dilatation, is characterized by frequent stretching and irreversible destruction of the walls of the air-filled spaces below the terminal bronchioles.

● Derived from genetic factors.
● Increased responsiveness of the airways along with lung defects during fetal development, exposure to extremely toxic factors, respiratory infections in children during early development, and is one of the objective factors leading to COPD.
● Gender: Usually, the rate of people suffering from COPD is higher in men than in women.

Secondhand smoke is one of the most dangerous factors leading to COPD. People who have a long-term habit of smoking will have more lung dysfunction along with respiratory symptoms than non-smokers. The majority of patients with COPD today are smokers.
Dust and industrial chemicals: if you are in direct contact with these toxic substances for a long time, it can also cause your body to develop COPD, the disease will get worse if you continue to use it. cigarette.

Computed tomography (CT) scans provide high-resolution images, creating the core value for accurate diagnosis of patients' obstructive pulmonary disease.
This method helps to determine the location along with the width, severity, and severity of emphysema while the chest x-ray and the above parameters measuring respiratory function still give normal results.
In addition, this technique is also commonly used when it is necessary to detect bronchiectasis associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Images associated with bronchioles or bronchioles: show bronchial wall thickening that looks like rails or rings, or bright circles.
Image of emphysema: computed tomography can help us clearly see areas of hypodense tissue and reduce pulmonary blood vessels, even clearly see emphysema,...

● Most of the patients are male, over 40 years old and have a history of smoking. They are having cough and sputum for many years, shortness of breath increases with time.
● The patient may also present with bronchial symptoms such as wet rales or crackles. Or there are signs of pulmonary emphysema such as dilated chest, echoes,...
● Use computed tomography or chest X-ray to obtain images related to the lungs and emphysema images. lung.

Most cases are treated with drugs such as:
● Antibiotics: effective against bronchial and lung infections, using broad-spectrum antibiotics for 7-10 days.
● Bronchodilators: patients can be used a combination of drugs between adrenergic agonists and cholinergic antibiotics, the route of drug administration is often combined with local routes and systemic routes.
● expectorants: use groups containing the active ingredient N-acetylcysteine.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a dangerous disease, causing high mortality, but we can fully detect and treat it in time with special drugs. Therefore, to protect yourself, you should immediately go to reputable medical facilities to conduct quantitative computed tomography of COPD when signs of the disease appear.
Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for examination, prevention and treatment of many respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The examination, diagnosis and treatment of diseases are carried out by qualified and well-trained doctors along with modern medical equipment, which will bring optimal treatment results to patients.
In order to improve service quality as well as serve the requirements of comprehensive health care, Vinmec now also deploys convenient medical services such as a lung cancer screening package, which is especially useful for those patients who regularly smoke and are exposed to tobacco or have a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and many other respiratory diseases.
Master, Resident Doctor Nguyen Van Anh graduated as a Resident Doctor in Diagnostic Imaging at Hanoi Medical University and attended training in Teaching and Scientific Research Competency at the University General Sydney, Australia, internship at Concord Hospital Radiology Department, Sydney, Australia. Dr. Van Anh has strengths in magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, X-ray, ultrasound; specialized in musculoskeletal imaging; tumor biopsies (bone, lung, liver...) under the guidance of computed tomography and ultrasound; aspiration cytology (lymph nodes, thyroid, breast,...); Drain the abscesses under ultrasound guidance. Currently, Dr. Van Anh is working at the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.