LUNG DENSITY - CLINICAL METHOD FOR QUANTITATION OF PULMONARY CONGESTION AND EDEMA

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 116  (2) , 153-154
Abstract
The density of a defined volume of the human lung can be measured in vivo by a new noninvasive technique. A beam of .gamma.-rays is directed at the lung and, by measuring the scattered .gamma.-rays, lung density is calculated. The density in the lower lobe of the right lung in normal man during quiet breathing in the sitting position ranged from 0.25-0.37 g.cntdot.cm-3. Subnormal values were found in patients with emphysema. In patients with pulmonary congestion and edema, lung density values ranged from 0.33-0.93 g.cntdot.cm-3. The lung density measurement correlated well with the findings in chest radiographs but the lung density values were more sensitive indices. This was particularly evident in serial observations of individual patients.