Assessment Of Changes In Regional Xenon-Ventilation, Perfusion, And Ventilation-Perfusion Mismatch Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography After Pharmacological Treatment In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Visual And Quantitative Analysis

PURPOSE: To assess changes in regional ventilation (V), perfusion (Q), and V-Q mismatch in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after pharmacologic treatment using combined xenon-enhanced V and iodine-enhanced Q dual-energy CT (DECT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Combined V and Q DECT were performed at baseline and after three-month pharmacologic treatment in 52 COPD patients. Anatomically co-registered virtual non-contrast images, V, Q, and V/Q(ratio) maps were obtained. V/Q pattern was visually determined to be matched, mismatched, or reversed-mismatched and compared with the regional parenchymal disease patterns of each segment. DECT parameters for V, Q, and V-Q imbalance were quantified. RESULTS: The parenchymal patterns on CT were not changed at follow-up. The segments with matched V/Q pattern were increased (80.2% to 83.6%) as the segments with reversed-mismatched V/Q pattern were decreased with improving ventilation (17.6% to 13.8%) after treatment. Changes of V/Q patterns were mostly observed in segments with bronchial wall thickening. Compared with patients without bronchial wall thickening, the quantified DECT parameters of V-Q imbalance were significantly improved in patients with bronchial wall thickening (p < 0.05). Changes in forced expiratory volume in one second after treatment were correlated with changes in the quantified DECT parameters (r = 0.327–0.342 or r = −0.406 and −0.303; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: DECT analysis showed that the V-Q imbalance was improved after the pharmacological treatment in COPD patients, although the parenchymal disease patterns remained unchanged. This improvement of V-Q imbalance may occur mostly in the areas with bronchial wall thickening.