Radioaerosol lung imaging in chronic obstructive airway disease

Inhalation radioaerosol lung imaging was performed in 22 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) and in 8 healthy subjects. Aerosol deposition pattern within the right lung, as recorded by a gamma camera, was expressed by means of the aerosol distribution index (ADI). The degree of airway obstruction as measured by airways resistance (Rsub(aw)) was significantly correlated with ADI. Differing stages of COLD are characterized by differing radioaerosol images, which may resemble each other in end-stage disease. The readily available radioaerosol technique can disclose the location and magnitude of bronchitic airway alterations and be useful for clinical inhalation lung imaging in multiple views. (orig.)