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    Original Research

    Validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics in CT-based Airway Models with SPECT/CT

    Published Online:Dec 1 2010https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.10100322

    Abstract

    A combination of CT and computational fluid dynamics yields functional information regarding ventilation of the lower airways that is in agreement with the outcome of combined SPECT/CT.

    Purpose

    To compare the results obtained by using numerical flow simulations with the results of combined single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) and to demonstrate the importance of correct boundary conditions for the numerical methods to account for the large amount of interpatient variability in airway geometry.

    Materials and Methods

    This study was approved by all relevant institutional review boards. All patients gave their signed informed consent. In this study, six patients with mild asthma (three men; three women; overall mean age, 46 years ± 17 [standard deviation]) underwent CT at functional residual capacity and total lung capacity, as well as SPECT/CT. CT data were used for segmentation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. A comparison was made between airflow distribution, as derived with (a) SPECT/CT through tracer concentration analysis, (b) CT through lobar expansion measurement, and (c) CFD through flow computer simulation. Also, the heterogeneity of the ventilation was examined.

    Results

    Good agreement was found between SPECT/CT, CT, and CFD in terms of airflow distribution and hot spot detection. The average difference for the internal airflow distribution was less than 3% for CFD and CT versus SPECT/CT. Heterogeneity in ventilation patterns could be detected with SPECT/CT and CFD.

    Conclusion

    This results of this study show that patient-specific computer simulations with appropriate boundary conditions yield information that is similar to that obtained with functional imaging tools, such as SPECT/CT.

    © RSNA, 2010

    Supplemental material: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.10100322/-/DC1

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    Article History

    Received February 9, 2010; revision requested April 2; revision received June 21; accepted July 28; final version accepted August 18.
    Published online: Dec 2010
    Published in print: Dec 2010