Abstract
AbstractPurpose: We evaluated the usefulness of CT for assessing oxygen desaturation during walking in patients with emphysema.Material and Methods: The study comprised 32 patients with emphysema (mean age 67±6 years). Serial CT images of 5 mm were obtained from the apex to the basal regions of the lung during deep inspiration. The severity of emphysema was scored by four physicians according to a visual method. A six-minute walking test and oxygen desaturation (pSO2) measurements were performed.Results and Conclusion: The mean CT score of the four observers was signfiicantly correlated with the nadir pSO2 and ΔpSO2, but did not correlate with the total distance walked. These results suggest that CT may be used for the assessment of oxygen desaturation during low-grade exercise in patients with emphysema.