Journal article
Longitudinal study of COPD phenotypes using integrated SPECT and qCT imaging
Frontiers in physiology, Vol.16, 1555230
04/01/2025
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1555230
PMCID: PMC12061679
PMID: 40352142
Abstract
IntroductionThe aim of this research is to elucidate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression by quantifying lung ventilation heterogeneities using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images and establishing correlations with quantitative computed tomography (qCT) imaging-based metrics. This approach seeks to enhance our understanding of how structural and functional changes influence ventilation heterogeneity in COPD.MethodsEight COPD subjects completed a longitudinal study with three visits, spaced about a year apart. CT scans were performed at each visit and qCT-based variables were derived to measure the structural and functional characteristics of the lungs, while the SPECT-based variables were used to quantify lung ventilation heterogeneity. The correlations between key qCT-based variables and SPECT-based variables were examined.ResultsThe SPECT-based ventilation heterogeneity (CVTotal) showed strong correlations with the qCT-based functional small airway disease percentage (fSAD%Total) and emphysematous tissue percentage (Emph%Total) in the total lung, based on cross-sectional data. Over the 2-year period, changes in SPECT-based hot spots (TCMax) exhibited strong negative correlations with changes in fSAD%Total, Emph%Total, and the average airway diameter in the left upper lobe, as well as a strong positive correlation with alternations in airflow distribution between the upper and lower lobes.DiscussionIn conclusion, this study found strong positive cross-sectional correlations between CVTotal and both fSAD% and Emph%, suggesting that these markers primarily reflect static disease severity at a single time point. In contrast, longitudinal correlations between changes in TCMax and other variables over 2 years may capture the dynamic process of hot spot formation, independent of disease severity. These findings suggest that changes in TCMax may serve as a more sensitive biomarker than changes in CVTotal for tracking the underlying mechanisms of COPD progression.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Longitudinal study of COPD phenotypes using integrated SPECT and qCT imaging
- Creators
- Frank Li - University of IowaXuan Zhang - University of IowaAlejandro P. Comellas - University of IowaEric A. Hoffman - University of IowaMichael M. Graham - University of IowaChing-Long Lin - University of Iowa, Mechanical Engineering
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in physiology, Vol.16, 1555230
- DOI
- 10.3389/fphys.2025.1555230
- PMID
- 40352142
- PMCID
- PMC12061679
- NLM abbreviation
- Front Physiol
- eISSN
- 1664-042X
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A; LAUSANNE
- Grant note
- NIH: R01-HL168116, U01-HL114494, R01-HL112986, S10-RR022421, T32-HL144461, P116S210005
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. Supports for this study were provided, in part, by NIH grants R01-HL168116, U01-HL114494, R01-HL112986, S10-RR022421, T32-HL144461, and ED grant P116S210005.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology; Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; ICTS; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; Radiation Oncology; Mechanical Engineering; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984815908202771
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