Recent findings in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by using quantitative computed tomography

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by an incompletely reversible airflow limitation that results from a combination of airway wall remodeling and emphysematous lung destruction. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) has been considered the gold standard for diagnosis, classification, and follow-up in patients with COPD, but it has certain limitations and it is still necessary to find other noninvasive modalities to complement FEV1 to evaluate the effect of therapeutic interventions and the pathogenesis of COPD. Quantitative computed tomography (CT) has partly met this demand. The extent of emphysema and airway dimensions measured using quantitative CT are associated with morphological and functional changes and clinical symptoms in patients with COPD. Phenotyping COPD based on quantitative CT has facilitated interventional and genotypic studies. Recent advances in COPD findings with quantitative CT are discussed in this review.