CT scores of emphysema and oxygen desaturation during low-grade exercise in patients with emphysema

Abstract

Purpose: We evaluated the usefulness of CT for assessing oxygen desaturation during walking in patients with emphysema.

Material and Methods: The study comprised 32 patients with emphysema (mean age 67±6 years). Serial CT images of 5 mm were obtained from the apex to the basal regions of the lung during deep inspiration. The severity of emphysema was scored by four physicians according to a visual method. A six-minute walking test and oxygen desaturation (pSO₂) measurements were performed.

Results and Conclusion: The mean CT score of the four observers was signfiicantly correlated with the nadir pSO₂ and ΔpSO₂, but did not correlate with the total distance walked. These results suggest that CT may be used for the assessment of oxygen desaturation during low-grade exercise in patients with emphysema.