"Radiological Assessment of Smoking-Induced Lung Abnormalities: A Comparative Study of Chest Radiography and CT Imaging in Smoking Patients"
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Abstract
Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for chronic lung diseases, including respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD), chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. This study aimed to evaluate lung abnormalities in smokers using chest radiography and CT imaging and to analyze the correlation between smoking history and radiological findings. A prospective study was conducted on 200 smokers between November 2020 and July 2024. Each participant underwent both chest radiography and CT scans to assess lung markings, bronchial wall thickening, emphysema, and interstitial abnormalities. Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between smoking burden and imaging findings. The results indicated that 78% of smokers exhibited increased lung markings, and significant bronchial wall thickening was observed in heavy smokers. CT imaging identified emphysema in 97% of cases, while 92% of chest radiographs also revealed early lung changes. Ground-glass opacities and nodular patterns were more frequently detected on CT scans. The findings reinforce the superior sensitivity of CT imaging in detecting smoking-related lung changes compared to chest radiography, emphasizing its role in early diagnosis and disease monitoring.
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References
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