Morphometric bronchoscopy in adults with central airway obstruction: case illustrations and review of the literature

Laryngoscope. 2009 Jul;119(7):1318-24. doi: 10.1002/lary.20478.

Abstract

The severity of airway narrowing impacts ventilatory function, quality of life, and choice of therapy for patients with central airway obstruction. The quantification of airway caliber remains a subjective estimate that depends on patient positioning, technique, and operator experience. In this article, we describe how morphometric bronchoscopy, a software processing method whereby bronchoscopic digital images are analyzed in order to measure airway lumen diameter, can be used to objectively quantify the degree of airway narrowing in adult patients with central airway obstruction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Airway Obstruction / pathology*
  • Airway Obstruction / therapy
  • Bronchoscopy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Middle Aged
  • Software
  • Tracheal Stenosis / pathology*
  • Tracheal Stenosis / therapy