Computed tomography features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in associated with lung cancer

Abstract

Relevance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with lung cancer is common in smoking patients. Computed tomography (CT) is vital in detecting lung cancer, assessing regional lung parenchymal destruction, and airway remodeling in COPD.

The study aimed to determine the CT features of COPD associated with lung cancer.
Methods: This retrospective study included chest CT exams of 56 patients over the age of 40, with a smoking history of 10 years and more and with suspected COPD. 46.43% of patients had CT signs of lung cancer associated with COPD.
Results: Barrel-shaped chest (19.23%), saber-sheath trachea (7.69%), and bronchiectasis (15.38%) were less common in patients with lung cancer. Paraseptal and centrilobular emphysema were diagnosed in 96.15%, bullae – 73.33%. Bronchial narrowing of the lumen and wall thickening were identified for all lobar bronchus, segmental bronchus, and subsegmental bronchus. 
Conclusion: Paraseptal and centrilobular emphysema and bullae in the upper lobes of lungs were predominant CT features in patients with COPD associated with lung cancer. Lumen narrowing and wall thickening of lobar bronchus, segmental bronchus, and subsegmental bronchus 
were also revealed.