Evaluation method of airways for asthma patients using low dose HRCT images

Asthma is a chronic lung disease, which inflames and affects the airways, airway wall thickening, and lung density. In this study; we built up an automatic computerized method for the evaluation of the airway dimensions for asthma patients from low-dose 2D axial HRCT scans. Our proposed method concludes two frameworks. At first, right and left lung was eliminated from other structures. In the second step airway segmentation has been done using region growing and ellipse fitting method. Algorithm was evaluated on 10 mild asthma severity patients before and after drug using treatment and results were compared with respiratory function. We conclude that HRCT is a useful tool for airways evaluation in asthma patients. Because HRCT might be more sensitive for evaluate airway involvement, which is associated with airflow obstruction and diseases severity.