High Resolution CT > Findings > Airtrapping

 

AIR TRAPPING

Air trapping refers to the abnormal retention of gas within the lung following expiration. On HRCT, the lung parencyhma remains lucent on expiration, while normal lung areas show increased attenuation. Inspiration scans can be completely normal in air trapping. Air trapping therefore cannot be diagnosed on inspiration scans; lung inhomogeneity during inspiration scans can be interpreted as mosaic perfusion.