Bronchiectasis

Published on 02/04/2015 by admin

Filed under Internal Medicine

Last modified 22/04/2025

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101 Bronchiectasis

Advanced-level questions

How can CT assess bronchiectasis?

High-resolution CT performed at the end of expiration suggests that small airways disease may be an early feature of bronchiectasis, which then leads to more progressive injury and bronchiolar distortion. Larger studies with long-term follow-up are required to confirm this. Conventional CT has a sensitivity of 60–80% for detecting bronchiectasis, whereas high-resolution CT has a sensitivity of >90%, using bronchography as the ‘gold standard’.

Specific abnormalities found on high-resolution CT (Fig. 101.1) include:

Non-specific findings include:

Note: Cystic fibrosis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis involve an upper-lobe distribution, and Mycobacterium avium complex infection often involves the middle lobe or lingula. Bronchiectasis usually affects the lower lobe.