Authors:
Mott LS, Park J, Gangell CL, de Klerk NH, Sly PD, Murray CP, Stick SM
Authors notes:
Journal of Pediatrics. 2013;163(1):243-248
Keywords:
Lung disease, early structural lung changes, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis
Abstract:
To examine the distribution of early structural lung changes in clinically stable infants and young children with cystic fibrosis using chest computed tomography (CT).
Although bronchiectasis was most common in the right upper lobe, overall changes in lung structure were not more common or more extensive in the upper lobes.
Rather, bronchiectasis was more common in the right lung, and mucus plugging and air trapping were more common in the lower lobes.
The extents of bronchiectasis and air trapping were greater in the right lung.
Scans with bronchiectasis were also more likely to have coexisting mucus plugging and air trapping.
Early structural lung disease is heterogeneously distributed in the lung.
Quantitative scoring tools for studies using chest CT as an end point, and mechanistic studies that seek to better understand the pathogenesis of early cystic fibrosis lung disease, should take account of this differential topographic expression of disease early in life.