November has been designated National COPD Awareness Month to enhance awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death in the United States. AS current clinical research aims at developing diagnosis and treatment methods, quantitative staging and monitoring of the disease have become vitally important.
Lake Medical Imaging introduced CT Lung Density Analysis (LDA) as a quantitative imaging biomarker to assist in the diagnosis and management of COPD. This groundbreaking imaging software analyzes lung function during both inspiration and expiration with an actual percentage number rather than the “mild, moderate or severe” scores currently offered by standard pulmonary function tests to identify abnormalities. It is calculated when the CT of the lung is performed and helps determine the location and extent of tissue damage in patients with even early stages of COPD.
“This technique quantifies COPD components by ‘data crunching’ our current low-dose CT lung screening while accounting for the lungs changing size during inspiration and expiration,” said Dr. Cathrine Keller, Managing Physician for the group.
According to Keller, referring physicians can acquire augmented CT lung images with density overlays for detailed image interpretation via “health cloud” software for ease of access as well as for better patient communication and care planning.
“Being the first to acquire this important technology is part of our commitment to provide our referring physicians with enhanced diagnostic insights while making more in-depth, personalized patient analysis accessible,” Keller concluded.
Lake Medical Imaging is a fully accredited diagnostic imaging practice encompassing 23 board certified Radiologists and five state-of-the-art imaging centers in Central Florida. The group was the first outpatient imaging center in the nation to acquire the “Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence” designation from the American College of Radiology.
