Imaging
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Preliminary Diagnosis: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
-
I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis?
- II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing COPD.
-
III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging technique?
-
IV. What alternative imaging techniques are available?
- V. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative techniques for diagnosing COPD.
-
VI. What are the contraindications for the alternative imaging techniques?
Preliminary Diagnosis: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis?
Chest x-ray, PA, and lateral views.
II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing COPD.
Advantages
Inexpensive.
Quick.
Portable.
Exposes patients to minimal ionizing radiation.
Disadvantages
Less specific and sensitive in diagnosing COPD as compared to CT.
Less adept in detecting and characterizing an underlying primary pulmonary process or any secondary complications.
III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging technique?
No specific contraindications to plain radiography exist.
IV. What alternative imaging techniques are available?
CT of the chest without contrast/high resolution CT of the chest.
V. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative techniques for diagnosing COPD.
Advantages
More sensitive and specific in detecting and characterizing a primary pulmonary process or detecting a secondary complication than plain radiographs.
High resolution CT of the chest offers exquisite detail of the underlying architecture of the lung parenchyma.
Disadvantages
Exposes patient to more ionizing radiation than plain radiography.
Less portable.
VI. What are the contraindications for the alternative imaging techniques?
May be contraindicated in pregnant patients.
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