The role of chest computed tomography in the evaluation and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to compile recent data on the clinical associations of computed tomography (CT) scan findings in the literature and potential avenues for implementation into clinical practice.

Recent findings: Airways dysanapsis, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary vascular metrics have all recently been associated with poor chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outcomes when controlled for clinically relevant covariables, including risk of mortality in the case of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Other authors suggest that CT scan may provide insight into both lung parenchymal damage and other clinically important comorbidities in COPD.

Summary: CT scan findings in COPD relate to clinical outcomes. There is a continued need to develop processes to best implement the results of these studies into clinical practice.