Relationship between diminution of small pulmonary vessels and emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives To investigate the relationship between small pulmonary vessels and extent of emphysema on CT in individual lungs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Forty-nine patients were included. The percentage of cross-sectional area of vessels < 5 mm² (%CSA < 5) and extent of emphysema were assessed. Results Less than half of the COPD patients demonstrated an inverse correlation between %CSA < 5 and percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%). In the remaining patients, %CSA < 5 was homogeneously distributed. Conclusion Not all patients with COPD demonstrated an inverse correlation of the distributions between %CSA < 5 and LAA% in individual lungs.