RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Endoscopic advanced imaging of the respiratory tract: exploring probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy in emphysema
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP thoraxjnl-2016-209746
DO 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209746
A1 J Yserbyt
A1 C Dooms
A1 W Janssens
A1 G M Verleden
YR 2017
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2017/04/13/thoraxjnl-2016-209746.abstract
AB Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) was performed in 15 patients with emphysema and 15 healthy subjects to visualise small airways in a direct and dynamic way. Morphometry shows that the median cross-sectional area of the alveolar openings at the level of the alveolar ducts is significantly larger in emphysema (7.2×104 µm2) as compared with healthy subjects (5.2×104 µm2) (p=0.0002). Normalised autofluorescence intensity histograms show a decrease in median autofluorescence intensity (mAFI) in emphysema (p=0.001). mAFI correlates well with Tiffeneau index (r=0.66, p=0.007, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.88). Autofluorescence intensity in emphysema correlates with corresponding data of CT-based quantification. pCLE-based morphometry and autofluorescence intensity analysis in emphysema is able to detect regional changes inside the ‘quiet zone’.Trial registration number Results, NCT01204970.