Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a novel imaging technique and little is known about its characteristics and diagnostic value in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The aim of this study was to investigate the features of VRI in subjects with IPF.
METHODS: We enrolled 23 subjects with IPF (42–74 y old) and 28 healthy subjects (42–72 y old). Subjects with IPF were diagnosed by lung biopsy and underwent VRI, spirometry, lung diffusion testing, and chest x-ray or computed tomography, which entailed assessment of the value of VRI indices.
RESULTS: The total VRI score correlated statistically with single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity percent predicted (r = −0.30, P = .04), but not with FVC percent predicted, FEV1 percent predicted, and FEV1/FVC (r = −0.27, −0.22, and 0.19; all P > .05). Compared with healthy subjects (17.9%), 20 subjects with IPF (86.96%, P < .01) presented with significantly increased crackles. The difference in quality lung data in all lung regions was unremarkable (all P > .05), except for the upper right and lower left lobes (P < .05). Overall, VRI parameters yielded acceptable assay sensitivity and specificity. Maximum energy frame was characterized by the highest diagnostic value (sensitivity, 1.00; specificity, 0.82), followed by presence of abundant crackles (sensitivity, 0.70; specificity, 0.96). Total VRI score was not a sensitive indicator of IPF, owing to low assay sensitivity (0.70) and specificity (0.64).
CONCLUSIONS: VRI may be helpful to discriminate between IPF subjects and healthy individuals. Maximum energy frame and abundant crackles might serve as a diagnostic tool for IPF.
- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- pulmonary function
- pulmonary breathing imaging diagnosis system
- vibration response imaging
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Jin-ping Zheng MD, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 151 Yanjiang Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, People's Republic of China. E-mail: jpzhenggy{at}163.com.
Drs Q Liu and Guan are co-first authors.
This study was supported by National Key Technology Research and Development Program (2012BAI05B01/2013BAI09B09).
Supplementary material related to this paper is available at http://www.rcjournal.com.
The authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.
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