Briefly, thin-slice acquisition and high spatial resolution reconstruction algorithms allow for near-isotropic voxels. This gives the reader additional tools for a thorough evaluation of the imaged field, including multiplanar reformats and both maximum and minimum intensity projection postprocessed images. In the setting of chronic cough, however, the various modalities and specific protocol designs have not been adequately investigated and compared. It is unclear how much the added resolving power of HRCT adds to the clinical evaluation of patients with chronic cough. Contrast- and noncontrast-enhanced studies have also not been compared. The addition of contrast would allow for improved visualization of the mediastinum, chest wall, and soft Chronic Cough HRCT is considered the reference standard for the evaluation of bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis has been identified as an etiology for chronic cough in up to 8% of patients in case series [2,7]. Although suspicion for bronchiectasis can be aided by clinical features [5], chest radiography has shown poor sensitivity for evaluation. Altenburg et al [32] reported that radiographic findings did not detect ectatic airways in up to 34% of patients reviewed. Bronchiectasis and bronchial wall thickening were identified in 27% and 21% of patients, respectively, referred to chest CT for the evaluation of chronic cough in whom radiographs were reportedly normal [3]. There remains variable association between identification of bronchiectasis and clinical features. Bronchiectasis has been found by chest CT in asymptomatic persons enrolled in a health survey screening setting [4], as well as in asymptomatic elderly persons [37]. Wilsher et al [40] evaluated 60 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed RA and were unable to demonstrate a correlation between cough symptoms and bronchiectasis, although association reached significance for dyspnea.
Chronic Cough. Briefly, thin-slice acquisition and high spatial resolution reconstruction algorithms allow for near-isotropic voxels. This gives the reader additional tools for a thorough evaluation of the imaged field, including multiplanar reformats and both maximum and minimum intensity projection postprocessed images. In the setting of chronic cough, however, the various modalities and specific protocol designs have not been adequately investigated and compared. It is unclear how much the added resolving power of HRCT adds to the clinical evaluation of patients with chronic cough. Contrast- and noncontrast-enhanced studies have also not been compared. The addition of contrast would allow for improved visualization of the mediastinum, chest wall, and soft Chronic Cough HRCT is considered the reference standard for the evaluation of bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis has been identified as an etiology for chronic cough in up to 8% of patients in case series [2,7]. Although suspicion for bronchiectasis can be aided by clinical features [5], chest radiography has shown poor sensitivity for evaluation. Altenburg et al [32] reported that radiographic findings did not detect ectatic airways in up to 34% of patients reviewed. Bronchiectasis and bronchial wall thickening were identified in 27% and 21% of patients, respectively, referred to chest CT for the evaluation of chronic cough in whom radiographs were reportedly normal [3]. There remains variable association between identification of bronchiectasis and clinical features. Bronchiectasis has been found by chest CT in asymptomatic persons enrolled in a health survey screening setting [4], as well as in asymptomatic elderly persons [37]. Wilsher et al [40] evaluated 60 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed RA and were unable to demonstrate a correlation between cough symptoms and bronchiectasis, although association reached significance for dyspnea.