Early Recognition of Chronic Airway Disease by the 133Xe Lung Scan

doi:10.1001/jama.1972.03200080062016

Early Recognition of Chronic Airway Disease by the 133Xe Lung Scan

Frank A. Dittrich, MD;
David A. Goodwin, MD

From Palo Alto (Calif) Veterans Administration Hospital.

Abstract

Early airway disease, when it involves only the small peripheral airways, may not contribute sufficiently to airway resistance to be measured by the standard tests of ventilatory function. The¹³³Xe lung scan is a relatively simple method for demonstrating maldistribution of regional ventilation caused by small-airway disease. In the case reported here, regional ventilation abnormalities were demonstrated with the¹³³Xe lung scan, when the results of standard tests of pulmonary function were essentially normal.