Preliminary Diagnosis: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis?
Chest x-ray, PA, and lateral views.
II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing COPD.
Advantages
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Inexpensive.
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Quick.
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Portable.
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Exposes patients to minimal ionizing radiation.
Disadvantages
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Less specific and sensitive in diagnosing COPD as compared to CT.
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Less adept in detecting and characterizing an underlying primary pulmonary process or any secondary complications.
III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging technique?
No specific contraindications to plain radiography exist.
IV. What alternative imaging techniques are available?
CT of the chest without contrast/high resolution CT of the chest.
V. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative techniques for diagnosing COPD.
Advantages
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More sensitive and specific in detecting and characterizing a primary pulmonary process or detecting a secondary complication than plain radiographs.
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High resolution CT of the chest offers exquisite detail of the underlying architecture of the lung parenchyma.
Disadvantages
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Exposes patient to more ionizing radiation than plain radiography.
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Less portable.
VI. What are the contraindications for the alternative imaging techniques?
May be contraindicated in pregnant patients.
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