Application progress of multi-slice CT in the evaluation of chronic obstructive lung disease-associated pulmonary hypertension

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) is prevalent in individuals at 40 years age or older in China. Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a severe complication in the natural history of COPD, which can lead to right heart failure and even death. The early diagnosis of PAH in COPD is in urgent need, since early treatment of PAH in COPD will improve the prognosis significantly. Multi-slice CT is a non-invasive tool that can use quantitative and qualitative indexes to detect and prompt PAH in COPD, estimate its prognosis and monitor the therapeutic effects. (authors)