Search Results (2)

Airway collapse (AC) in dogs includes a tracheal collapse, mainstem and lobar bronchial collapse, and bronchomalacia (i.e., segmental/subsegmental bronchial collapse). The clinical presentation of AC may overlap with non-collapsible airway disease (NCAD) or another non-lower airway respiratory disease (NLARD). This study determined whether paired inspiratory (I)/expiratory (E)-breath-hold computed tomography (I/E-BH CT) can detect a static and dynamic AC in dogs with spontaneous respiratory disease and it compared the CT-derived metrics of the AC to the tracheobronchoscopy metrics. The CT-acquired I and E diameter and cross-sectional area (CSA) for the trachea, mainstem and lobar bronchi in dogs with an AC (n = 16), NCAD (16), and NLARD (19) served for a dynamic percent of the airway narrowing (%AN) calculation. A scoring system assessed the bronchomalacia. The circularity was calculated for each airway. The results were compared to the tracheobronchoscopy collapse grading. In the dogs with an AC, the %AN was larger for the trachea, right mainstem bronchus and right middle lobar bronchus when they were compared to the dogs with NCAD and NLARD. Flattening was only identified for the trachea of the AC dogs. The agreement between the CT and tracheobronchoscopy scores was 20% from trachea to the lobar bronchi and 47% for the segmental/subsegmental bronchi. Paired I/E-BH CT can detect static and dynamic AC with limited agreement with the tracheobronchoscopy metrics. Independent scoring systems that are tailored to the clinical manifestations of functional impairments are needed. Full article

Introduction: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a T-helper cell 2 (Th2) mediated hypersensitive lung disorder in response to Aspergillus that usually affects asthmatic and cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. ABPA rarely presents as lung collapse and such kind of presentation is very rare in non asthmatic patients. We are presenting a series of three cases in which ABPA presented as lobar or total lung collapse. ABPA presenting as opaque hemithorax is a rarity with only a few of them reported in the literature. Case series—the first case described is a 45-year non-smoker with history suggestive of bronchial asthma and on chest radiological examination was found to have opaque right hemithorax. The second case is of 62-year non-smoker non-asthmatic patient who presented to us as left lung collapse. The last case is of middle lobe collapse in asthmatic male. All cases ultimately were proved to be having ABPA and after treatment showed marked clinical and radiological improvement. Conclusions: The present case series highlights the need for aggressive approach in diagnosing this treatable condition in cases presenting as segmental or total lung collapse. The condition has a good prognosis if detected early. Full article