Radiological and functional characteristics of mucociliary clearance of the airway

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a radiological model for visual assessment of morphology and function of the ciliated epithelium of the upper and lower airways and mucociliary clearance at whole in healthy and in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, COPD and lung carcinoma. Methods. We examined 65 patients aged 23 to 58 years, of them 26 patients with limited lung lesions and normal airway mucosa as controls and 39 patients with extended lung lesions due to tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung carcinoma as the study group. The airway mucosa functional properties were investigated using spray coating of tantalum microparticles. Results. In the control group, the time of complete clearance was 15 to 20 min for larynx and pharynx, 45 to 60 min for trachea and 1–3 to 20–24 h for different bronchi. Bronchial clearance of the particle was decreased in the study group. The airway clearance disorders were considered as moderate (in patients with acute inflammation such as tuberculous, non-specific pneumonia, acute bronchitis, etc.), severe (in patients with chronic bronchial and pulmonary disease such as cavitary fibrocaseous tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis) and very severe (in patients with lung carcinoma). The clearance time in these disorders was 24 to 48 h, 48 to 72 h and #> 72 h, respectively. Conclusion. Normally, the airway clearance rate is 60-65 times lower in small airways than in the upper airways (pharynx and laryngx). Clearance local disorders caused by tobacco smoking, pollutants, etc., greatly decrease bronchial mucus transport and prolong the complete airway clearance time that could provide occurrence and progression of inflammatory and neoplastic pulmonary diseases.