Computed Tomography Measurement of Rib Cage Morphometry in Emphysema

Background: Factors determining the shape of the human rib cage are not completely understood. We aimed to quantify the contribution of anthropometric and COPD-related changes to rib cage variability in adult cigarette smokers. Methods: Rib cage diameters and areas (calculated from the inner surface...

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Main Authors: Sverzellati, N., Colombi, D., Randi, G., Pavarani, A., Silva, M., Walsh, S., Pistolesi, M., Alfieri, V., Chetta, A., Vaccarezza, Mauro, Vitale, M., Pastorino, U.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9613
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author Sverzellati, N.
Colombi, D.
Randi, G.
Pavarani, A.
Silva, M.
Walsh, S.
Pistolesi, M.
Alfieri, V.
Chetta, A.
Vaccarezza, Mauro
Vitale, M.
Pastorino, U.
author_facet Sverzellati, N.
Colombi, D.
Randi, G.
Pavarani, A.
Silva, M.
Walsh, S.
Pistolesi, M.
Alfieri, V.
Chetta, A.
Vaccarezza, Mauro
Vitale, M.
Pastorino, U.
author_sort Sverzellati, N.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Factors determining the shape of the human rib cage are not completely understood. We aimed to quantify the contribution of anthropometric and COPD-related changes to rib cage variability in adult cigarette smokers. Methods: Rib cage diameters and areas (calculated from the inner surface of the rib cage) in 816 smokers with or without COPD, were evaluated at three anatomical levels using computed tomography (CT). CTs were analyzed with software, which allows quantification of total emphysema (emphysema%). The relationship between rib cage measurements and anthropometric factors, lung function indices, and %emphysema were tested using linear regression models. Results: A model that included gender, age, BMI, emphysema%, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)%, and forced vital capacity (FVC)% fit best with the rib cage measurements (R2  = 64% for the rib cage area variation at the lower anatomical level). Gender had the biggest impact on rib cage diameter and area (105.3 cm2; 95% CI: 111.7 to 98.8 for male lower area). Emphysema% was responsible for an increase in size of upper and middle CT areas (up to 5.4 cm2; 95% CI: 3.0 to 7.8 for an emphysema increase of 5%). Lower rib cage areas decreased as FVC% decreased (5.1 cm2; 95% CI: 2.5 to 7.6 for 10 percentage points of FVC variation). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that simple CT measurements can predict rib cage morphometric variability and also highlight relationships between rib cage morphometry and emphysema.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-96132017-09-13T14:50:15Z Computed Tomography Measurement of Rib Cage Morphometry in Emphysema Sverzellati, N. Colombi, D. Randi, G. Pavarani, A. Silva, M. Walsh, S. Pistolesi, M. Alfieri, V. Chetta, A. Vaccarezza, Mauro Vitale, M. Pastorino, U. Background: Factors determining the shape of the human rib cage are not completely understood. We aimed to quantify the contribution of anthropometric and COPD-related changes to rib cage variability in adult cigarette smokers. Methods: Rib cage diameters and areas (calculated from the inner surface of the rib cage) in 816 smokers with or without COPD, were evaluated at three anatomical levels using computed tomography (CT). CTs were analyzed with software, which allows quantification of total emphysema (emphysema%). The relationship between rib cage measurements and anthropometric factors, lung function indices, and %emphysema were tested using linear regression models. Results: A model that included gender, age, BMI, emphysema%, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)%, and forced vital capacity (FVC)% fit best with the rib cage measurements (R2  = 64% for the rib cage area variation at the lower anatomical level). Gender had the biggest impact on rib cage diameter and area (105.3 cm2; 95% CI: 111.7 to 98.8 for male lower area). Emphysema% was responsible for an increase in size of upper and middle CT areas (up to 5.4 cm2; 95% CI: 3.0 to 7.8 for an emphysema increase of 5%). Lower rib cage areas decreased as FVC% decreased (5.1 cm2; 95% CI: 2.5 to 7.6 for 10 percentage points of FVC variation). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that simple CT measurements can predict rib cage morphometric variability and also highlight relationships between rib cage morphometry and emphysema. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9613 10.1371/journal.pone.0068546 fulltext
spellingShingle Sverzellati, N.
Colombi, D.
Randi, G.
Pavarani, A.
Silva, M.
Walsh, S.
Pistolesi, M.
Alfieri, V.
Chetta, A.
Vaccarezza, Mauro
Vitale, M.
Pastorino, U.
Computed Tomography Measurement of Rib Cage Morphometry in Emphysema
title Computed Tomography Measurement of Rib Cage Morphometry in Emphysema
title_full Computed Tomography Measurement of Rib Cage Morphometry in Emphysema
title_fullStr Computed Tomography Measurement of Rib Cage Morphometry in Emphysema
title_full_unstemmed Computed Tomography Measurement of Rib Cage Morphometry in Emphysema
title_short Computed Tomography Measurement of Rib Cage Morphometry in Emphysema
title_sort computed tomography measurement of rib cage morphometry in emphysema
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9613