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Airway Identification Within Planar Gamma Camera Images Using Computer Models of Lung Morphology

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Purpose

Quantification of inhaled aerosols by planar gamma scintigraphy could be improved if a more comprehensive assessment of aerosol distribution patterns among lung airways were obtained. The analysis of planar scans can be quite subjective because of overlaying of small, peripheral airways with large, conducting airways. Herein, a computer modeling technique of the three-dimensional (3-D) branching structure of human lung airways was applied to assist in the interpretation of planar gamma camera images.

Methods

Airway dimensions were derived from morphometric data, and lung boundaries were formulated from scintigraphy protocols. Central, intermediate, and peripheral regions were superimposed on a planar view of the 3-D simulations, and airways were then tabulated by type, number, surface area, and volume in each respective region.

Results

These findings indicate that the central region, for example, consists mostly of alveolated airways. Specifically, it was found that alveolated airways comprise over 99% of the total number of airways, over 95% of the total airway surface area, and approximately 80% of the total airway volume in the central region.

Conclusions

The computer simulations are designed to serve as templates that can assist in the interpretation of aerosol deposition data from scintigraphy images.

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Acknowledgments

Jeffry D. Schroeter was funded by the EPA/UNC Toxicology Research Program, Training Agreement CT902908 and CT827206, with the Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Author notes

  1. Jeffry D. Schroeter

    Present address: CIIT Centers for Health Research, Six Davis Drive, P.O. Box 12137, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709-2137, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Jeffry D. Schroeter

  2. 3M Health Care, 1 Morley Street, Loughborough, LE11 1EP, UK

    John N. Pritchard

  3. Microelectronics Division, IBM Corporation, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

    Dongming Hwang

  4. Experimental Toxicology Division, NHEERL, ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

    Ted B. Martonen

  5. Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Ted B. Martonen

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  1. Jeffry D. Schroeter
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  2. John N. Pritchard
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  3. Dongming Hwang
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  4. Ted B. Martonen
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Correspondence to Ted B. Martonen.

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Schroeter, J.D., Pritchard, J.N., Hwang, D. et al. Airway Identification Within Planar Gamma Camera Images Using Computer Models of Lung Morphology. Pharm Res 22, 1692–1699 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-005-6628-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-005-6628-y

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