Low attenuation areas (LAA) on computed tomographic (CT) scans have been shown to represent emphysematous changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the significance of LAA is still controversial in patients with asthma. This study was undertaken to assess the usefulness of lung CT densitometry in the detection of airspace enlargement in association with asthma severity.
Department of Medicine, Misasa Medical Branch, Okayama University Medical School, 827 Yamada, Misasa, Tottori 682-0192, Japan. fumin@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp