Improved correlation between CT emphysema quantification and pulmonary function test by density correction of volumetric CT data based on air and aortic density

Objectives: To determine the improvement of emphysema quantification with density correction and to determine the optimal site to use for air density correction on volumetric computed tomography (CT). Methods: Seventy-eight CT scans of COPD patients ( GOLD II-IV, smoking history 39.2 +/- 25.3 pack-years) were obtained from several single-vendor 16-MDCT scanners. After density measurement of aorta, tracheal- and external air, volumetric CT density correction was conducted (two reference values: air, -1000 HU/blood, +50 HU). Using in-house software, emphysema index (El) and mean lung density (MLD) were calculated. Differences in air densities, MLD and El prior to and after density correction were evaluated (paired t-test). Correlation between those parameters and FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were compared (age- and sex adjusted partial correlation analysis). Results: Measured densities (HU) of tracheal- and external air differed significantly (-990 +/- 14, -1016 +/- 9, P<0.001). MLD and El on original CT data, after density correction using tracheal- and external air also differed significantly (MLD: -874.9 +/- 27.6 vs. -882.3 +/- 24.9 vs. -860.5 +/- 26.6; EI: 16.8 +/- 13.4 vs. 21.1 +/- 14.5 vs. 9.7 +/- 10.5, respectively, P<0.001). The correlation coefficients between CT quantification indices and FEVi, and FEV1/FVC increased after density correction. The tracheal air correction showed better results than the external air correction. Conclusion: Density correction of volumetric CT data can improve correlations of emphysema quantification and PFT. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.