Characteristics and clinical significance of diffusing capacity in the patients with lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To explore the characteristics and clinical significance of diffusing capacity in the patients with lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was measured with the rebreathing method in 138 patients with primary lung cancer, and 86 were performed pulmonary resection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in DLCOrb and DLCOrbc between the groups with different histological type and degree of ventilation impairment and general type (P > 0.05). DLCOrb/VA mildly decreased in the patients whose lung ventilation function was normal. DLCOc/VA decreased in the patients with restrictive ventilation dysfunction (P < 0.01), and DLCOrb/VA decreased in the patients with obstructive and mixed ventilation dysfuncion (P < 0.05). DLCOc/VA decreased in the patients with light and obvious lung dysfunction (P < 0.05). DLCOc/VA in the patients with central lung cancer was lower than that in the peripheral ones (P < 0.01). DLCOc/VA and D LCOrb in the group with postoperative respiratory failure were lower than that in the group without respiratory failure (P < 0.05). When DLCOc/VA of less than 80% and DLCOrb/VA of less than 70% were used to predict the postoperative respiratory failure, the correct ratios of dignosis and the diagnostic indexes were high.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The diffusing capacity decreases in the patients with lung cancer, and the main manifestation is the abnormal DLCOrb/VA and DLCOc/VA. The general type of lung cancer and the degree of pulmonary dysfunction may influence the diffusing function of the patients. DLCOc/VA of less than 80% and DLCOrb/VA of less than 70% should be selected for predicting postoperative respiratory failure.</p>