Evaluation of Tracheobronchial Changes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Computed Tomography

Objective In this study, we aimed to evaluate the tracheabronchial changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods Between August 2018 and February 2019, 144 patients who underwent pulmonary function test (PFT) and thorax CT were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups as obstructive and normal according to PFT results. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of the groups were recorded. Transverse length (TL) and anteroposterior length (APL), tracheal index (TI), right-left tracheobrochial angle (TBA), interbronchial angle (IBA) values and tracheal morphology were recorded from thorax CT. These parameters were compared between the groups. Results Of the 144 patients included in the study, 52 (33.7%) patients (46 males, 6 females; mean age, 63.9 y) had COPD, while 92 of them (66.3%) (53 males, 39 females; mean age, 62.5 y) had normal PFT. There was no statistically significant difference between these two groups in terms of mean age, height, body weight, BMI, TL, right-left TBA and IBA values (p=0.104). APL and TI values were significantly higher in COPD patients (p<0.001). In addition, there was a significantly higher flattened morphology in the trachea in patients with COPD (p<0.001). Conclusion Increases in TI, APL values and flattened tracheal morphology were observed more frequently in patients with COPD.