High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is a type of
computed tomography
A computed tomography scan (CT scan; formerly called computed axial tomography scan or CAT scan) is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers ...
(CT) with specific techniques to enhance
image resolution. It is used in the diagnosis of various health problems, though most commonly for lung disease, by assessing the lung
parenchyma
Parenchyma () is the bulk of functional substance in an animal organ or structure such as a tumour. In zoology it is the name for the tissue that fills the interior of flatworms.
Etymology
The term ''parenchyma'' is New Latin from the word π ...
.
On the other hand, HRCT of the
temporal bone is used to diagnose various
middle ear diseases such as
otitis media,
cholesteatoma, and evaluations after ear operations.
Technique
HRCT is performed using a conventional CT scanner. However, imaging parameters are chosen so as to maximize spatial resolution:
a narrow slice width is used (usually 1–2 mm), a high spatial resolution image reconstruction algorithm is used, field of view is minimized, so as to minimize the size of each pixel, and other scan factors (e.g. focal spot) may be optimized for resolution at the expense of scan speed.
Depending on the suspected diagnosis, the scan may be performed in both
inspiration
Inspiration, inspire, or inspired often refers to:
* Artistic inspiration, sudden creativity in artistic production
* Biblical inspiration, the doctrine in Judeo-Christian theology concerned with the divine origin of the Bible
* Creative inspirat ...
and
expiration. In inspiration images are taken in the
prone position.
In ''expiratory HRCT'' the scan is taken in the
supine position (face up).
As HRCT's aim is to assess a generalized lung disease, the test is conventionally performed by taking thin sections which are 10–40 mm apart from each other. The result is a few images that should be representative of the lungs in general, but that cover only approximately one tenth of the lungs.
Intravenous
contrast agents are not used for HRCT as the lung inherently has very high contrast (soft tissue against air), and the technique itself is unsuitable for assessment of the soft tissues and blood vessels, which are the major targets of contrast agents.
Impact of modern CT technology
The technique of HRCT was developed with relatively slow CT scanners, which did not make use of
multi-detector (MDCT) technology. The parameters of scan duration, z-axis resolution and coverage were interdependent. To cover the chest in a reasonable time period with a conventional chest CT scan required thick sections (e.g., 10mm thick) to ensure contiguous coverage. As performing contiguous thin sections required unacceptably prolonged scan time, HRCT examination was performed with widely spaced sections. Because of the different scan parameters for conventional and HRCT examinations, if a patient required both, they had to be performed sequentially.
Modern MDCT scanners are able to overcome this interdependence, and are capable of imaging at full resolution yet retain very fast coverage - images can then be reconstructed retrospectively from the volumetric raw data. Because of this, it may be possible to reconstruct inspiratory HRCT-like images from the data taken from a 'normal' chest CT scan.
Alternatively, the scanner could be configured to perform contiguous 1mm sections for a HRCT examination - this provides greater diagnostic information as it examines the entire lung, and permits the use of multi-planar reconstruction techniques. However, it brings the expense of irradiating the entire chest (instead of approximately 10%) when performed using widely spaced sections.
Lung disease
HRCT is used for diagnosis and assessment of
interstitial lung disease, such as
pulmonary fibrosis, and other generalized lung diseases such as
emphysema
Emphysema, or pulmonary emphysema, is a lower respiratory tract disease, characterised by air-filled spaces ( pneumatoses) in the lungs, that can vary in size and may be very large. The spaces are caused by the breakdown of the walls of the alve ...
and
bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a disease in which there is permanent enlargement of parts of the bronchi, airways of the lung. Symptoms typically include a chronic cough with sputum, mucus production. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, hemoptysis, co ...
.
Applications
Airways diseases, such as
emphysema
Emphysema, or pulmonary emphysema, is a lower respiratory tract disease, characterised by air-filled spaces ( pneumatoses) in the lungs, that can vary in size and may be very large. The spaces are caused by the breakdown of the walls of the alve ...
or
bronchiolitis obliterans
Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), also known as obliterative bronchiolitis, constrictive bronchiolitis and popcorn lung, is a disease that results in obstruction of the smallest airways of the lungs (bronchioles) due to inflammation. Symptoms include ...
, cause
air trapping
Air trapping, also called gas trapping, is an abnormal retention of air in the lungs where it is difficult to exhale completely. It is observed in obstructive lung diseases such as asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and chronic obstructive ...
on expiration, even though they may cause only minor changes to lung structure in their early stages. To enhance sensitivity for these conditions, the scan may be performed in both inspiration and expiration.
HRCT may be diagnostic for conditions such as emphysema or bronchiectasis. While HRCT may be able to identify pulmonary fibrosis, it may not always be able to further categorize the fibrosis to a specific pathological type (e.g.,
non-specific interstitial pneumonitis or
desquamative interstitial pneumonitis). The major exception is UIP, which has very characteristic features, and may be confidently diagnosed on HRCT alone.
Where HRCT is unable to reach a definitive diagnosis, it helps locate an abnormality, and so helps planning a
biopsy, which may provide the final diagnosis.
Other miscellaneous conditions where HRCT is useful include
lymphangitis carcinomatosa, fungal, or other atypical, infections, chronic pulmonary vascular disease,
lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and
sarcoidosis.
Organ transplant patients, particularly lung, or heart-lung transplant recipients, are at relatively high risk of developing pulmonary complications of the long-term drug and
immunosuppressive treatment. The major pulmonary complication is
bronchiolitis obliterans
Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), also known as obliterative bronchiolitis, constrictive bronchiolitis and popcorn lung, is a disease that results in obstruction of the smallest airways of the lungs (bronchioles) due to inflammation. Symptoms include ...
, which may be a sign of lung graft rejection.
HRCT has better sensitivity for bronchiolitis obliterans than conventional radiography. Some transplant centers may arrange annual HRCT to screen for this.
Diagnostic imaging, including HRCT, is one of the main diagnostic tools for
COVID-19. There is some debate about the usefulness of CT compared to other methods and imaging modalities for diagnosis. Under HRCT scan, infected individuals generally showed a multifocal or unifocal involvement of
ground-glass opacity
Ground-glass opacity (GGO) is a finding seen on chest x-ray (radiograph) or computed tomography (CT) imaging of the lungs. It is typically defined as an area of hazy opacification (x-ray) or increased attenuation (CT) due to air displacement by ...
(GGO).
Nodularity
The presence of
lung nodules on high resolution CT is a keystone in understanding the appropriate differential. Typically, the distribution of nodules is divided into perilymphatic, centrilobular and random categories. Furthermore, nodules can be ill-defined, implying they are in the
alveoli Alveolus (; pl. alveoli, adj. alveolar) is a general anatomical term for a concave cavity or pit.
Uses in anatomy and zoology
* Pulmonary alveolus, an air sac in the lungs
** Alveolar cell or pneumocyte
** Alveolar duct
** Alveolar macrophage
* ...
, or well defined, suggesting an
interstitial position. Distribution and appearance allow understanding of the disease process relative to the secondary lobule of the lung, the smallest anatomic unit with surrounding connective tissue, usually 1–2 cm across.
Perilymphatic nodularity deposits at the periphery of the secondary lobule and tends to respect pleural surfaces and fissures.
Sarcoidosis,
lymphangitic spread of carcinoma,
silicosis
Silicosis is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust. It is marked by inflammation and scarring in the form of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs. It is a type of pneumoconiosis. Silicos ...
,
coal worker's pneumoconiosis
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as black lung disease or black lung, is an occupational type of pneumoconiosis caused by long-term exposure to coal dust. It is common in coal miners and others who work with coal. It is similar to b ...
, and more rare diagnoses such as
lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis and
amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is a group of diseases in which abnormal proteins, known as amyloid fibrils, build up in tissue. There are several non-specific and vague signs and symptoms associated with amyloidosis. These include fatigue, peripheral edema, weight ...
are included in the differential. Centrilobular nodularity deposits at the center of the secondary lobule, but spares pleural surfaces. Differential includes endobronchial
tuberculosis,
bronchopneumonia,
endobronchial spread of tumor, and again silicosis or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis. For randomly distributed nodules, the differential includes miliary tuberculosis,
fungal pneumonia, hematogenous
metastasis and diffuse sarcoidosis.
Prone versus supine position
Because the bases of the lungs lie
posteriorly in the chest, a mild degree of collapse under the lungs' own weight can occur when the patient lies on their back. As the very base of the lungs may be the first region affected in several lung diseases, most notably
asbestosis or
usual interstitial pneumonia
Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is a form of lung disease characterized by progressive scarring of both lungs. The scarring (fibrosis) involves the pulmonary interstitium (the supporting framework of the lung). UIP is thus classified as a for ...
(UIP), the patient may be asked to lie prone to improve sensitivity to early changes of these conditions.
The lung bases are often inconsistent in appearance in patients due to the potential for
atelectasis causing positional
ground glass or consolidative opacities. When the patient is positioned prone, or on their belly, the lung bases can expand further and help distinguish
atelectasis from early fibrosis. In patients with normal chest radiographs, prone scans have been found useful in 17% of cases, particularly in excluding posterior lung abnormalities. In patients with abnormal findings on chest radiographs, prone scans are only useful in 4% of cases. The scans may be more useful in patients with basilar predominant disease processes, such as asbestosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Temporal bone diseases
HRCT temporal bone is used to determine the anatomy of chronic otitis media (middle ear is located inside the temporal bone), congenital abnormalities, and loss of surgical landmarks due to previous operation. Thus, HRCT is useful in surgical planning and management of temporal bone diseases.
See also
*
X-ray microtomography
References
External links
High-Resolution Computed Tomography in Interstitial Lung DiseaseUnderstanding High-Resolution Computed Tomography
{{DEFAULTSORT:High Resolution Ct
X-ray computed tomography
Respiratory system imaging