Abstract:
Aim: To determine the normal reference values for both lung inspiratory volumes in children and adolescents with routine computed
tomography (CT) and compare relationships with gender and age.
Material and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 100 cases (53 males, 47 females) with normal chest CT (age range: 4-17
years). The cases were divided into three subgroups based on age as 4-7 years (preschool; n=31), 8-12 years (school-age; n=30) and
13-17 years (adolescent; n=39). Demographic data like sex and age were recorded. Right, left and total lung volumes were calculated
with automatic volumetric software. Volume comparisons were made for lungs, gender and age groups. Statistical analysis used the
Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, Mann-Whitney U test and Tamhane test.
Results: For all cases the right lung volume was greater than the left lung (p<0.001). There was no significant difference identified for
the total lung volumes between the genders (p=0.421). The right, left and total lung median volume values were identified as 379 cm3
,
310 cm3
and 689 cm3
in the preschool group, 840 cm 3.710 cm3
and 1550 cm3
in the school-age group and 1670 cm3
, 1391 cm3
and
3061 cm3
in the adolescent group, respectively. In the transitions from preschool to school-age and from school-age to adolescent
periods, the right, left and total lung volumes significantly increased.
Conclusion: Quantitative reference values for normal lung inspiratory volume were revealed for children and adolescents using CT.
As age group increased, there were significant increases in lung volume. Gender did not have a significant effect on lung volume.
