English

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine whether there is superior diagnostic accuracy for the detection and exclusion of bronchiectasis using 16-slice CT of the chest (1 mm) compared with conventional high-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest (10 mm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in the department of radiology KIIMS Bangalore over a one-year period during June 2012 – July 2013 in patients who were referred for chest CT from medicine department and pulmonologist for the investigation of bronchiectasis. All scans were performed using a 16-slice CT scanner. In addition to contiguous 1 mm slices, conventional HRCT images (1.25 mm slice every 10 mm) were prepared. Both datasets were dual read. RESULTS: There were 40 patients with a median age of 59 years (range, 52– 73 years), comprising 13 males and 27 females. 7 of 40 scans had no bronchiectasis in either dataset. 29 patients had bronchiectasis diagnosed on both HRCT and 1 mm scans. Two patients had tubular bronchiectasis on the HRCT scans, which was not confirmed on the 1 mm scans. Four patients had confirmed tubular bronchiectasis on the 1 mm scans, which was not identified on HRCT scans. 24 extra lobes demonstrated bronchiectasis on the 1 mm vs. the HRCT scans; of these, half were labeled as definite bronchiectasis on the 1 mm scan. There was a 32.8% increased confidence with the 1 mm scans compared with conventional HRCT of the chest in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis (p, 0.001). In conclusion, there is improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence for diagnosis and exclusion of bronchiectasis using 16-slice chest CT (1 mm cuts) compared with conventional HRCT of the chest.