Functional CT imaging of the lung in the axial and coronal plane after single-lung transplantation

After single-lung transplantation in a patient suffering from obstructive emphysema lung function parameters worsened during follow-up. To complement the routine high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans acquired in inspiration, additional scans were obtained to evaluate regional lung function. The comparison of HRCT scans acquired in inspiration and in expiration revealed different ventilation conditions of both lungs, continuous acquisition in a single slice (dynamic multiscan acquisition) in the axial and coronal plane demonstrated mediastinal shifting and the movement of the diaphragm during the whole breathing cycle. Both modalities can provide important information concerning regional differences of ventilation after single-lung transplantation. Expiratory HRCT should be applied on a regular basis in the follow-up of patients after single-lung transplantation. The application of axial and coronal dynamic multiscan acquisitions will be helpful in particular clinical conditions, like increasing hyperinflation, mediastinal shifting or bronchial collapse within the region of the anastomosis.