Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2013. Vol. 58. No. 4. P. 64–71
DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY
A.P. Dunaev1, ZH.V. Sheikh2, V.N. Yakovlev2, V.G. Alekseev2, E.V. Esin1, N.S. Drebushevskiy1, V.I. Doga1, G.G. Fedchenko3, A.N. Bashkov1, O.O. Grigor’eva1, V.G. Zhukhovitskiy1, S.A. Ul’aynov1
Computed Tomography in the Diagnostics of Lungs Abscess
1. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of FMBA, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 2. City Clinical Hospital S.P. Botkin, Moscow; 3. Russian Medical Academy of Postdiploma Education, Moscow, Russia
Abstract
Purpose: To increase the effectiveness of radiation diagnosis in patients with lung abscess. Results: X-ray and CT scan performed for 95 lung abscess patients. Massive pulmonary tissue seal was visualized in 56 (58.8 %) patients by X-ray imaging and in 77 (81 %) at CT. The rounded shape of infiltration, with the presence of increased density in the center was observed in 33 (34.7 %) patients on radiographs and CT in 45 (47.3 %) patients. Reduced density at the center of infiltration were observed in 4 patients (4.2 %) patients by X-ray imaging and in 22 (22.9 %) patients at CT. Melting of the infiltrate’s tissue to the liquid density, occupying almost the entire volume was observed on radiographic in 11 (11.5 %) patients with CT in 27 (60 %) patients. The air cavity with irregularly thickened walls (after draining the abscess) was observed in 73 (76.8 %) patients on radiographs and in 89 (96.3 %) patients in the CT study, the formation of capsules and oral correctly rounded with smooth walls was determined in 12 (12.6 %) patients during radiography at CT in 26 (27.3 %) patients. The cavities are interconnected at film visualized in 2 (2.1 %) patients in the study, CT – 5 (5.2 %) patients. The defeat of both lungs was registered in radiography in 3 patients (3.1 %), and CT in 6 patients (6.3 %). In 3 (3.1 %) patients in medical imaging and in 7 (7.3 %) patients a gangrenous abscess was recorded. Outcome of lung abscess in 15 patients (15.7 %) was the formation of star-shaped scar; in 58 (61 %) patients the scarring of lung tissue with the formation of a small residual air space had been found.
Conclusion: CT is a highly informative method for diagnosis of lung abscess. Compared with the conventional radiography Ғ can determine the location and extent of the pathological process more accurately and to detect the presence of the cavities and destruction of lung tissue, which in turn requires adjustment of the treatment.
Key words: computed tomography, lung abscess