Specificity of radionuclide scanning in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Seventy one middle aged patients, 10 females, 61 males, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were studied prospective by to determine the relationship between perfusion lung scan, radiographic appearance and clinical category of the obstructive airway disease. None of these patients had any previous history or fresh clinical evidence of pulmonary emboli. Fifty four patients [76%] were chronic smokers [mean duration of smoking 28.5 years] while 17 patients [24%] were non-smokers. All patients had a perfusion lung scan and a chest radiograph. Thirteen patients [18.3%] did not show any perfusion defect. Among those who showed perfusion defects, 57% had radiographs consistant with bronchitis and 4.3 with emphysema. None of the radiographs showed any opacity consistant with an area of reduced perfusion. Average incidence of perfusion defects among Blue Bloaters, simple chronic bronchitis and corpulmonale was 74%, whereas, for clinical emphysema [Pink Puffers] this ec as 100%. Radionuclide perfusion scan is a non-specific test which is of no help in deterntining diagnosis and severity of the pathological process in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease