A comparison of three methods of measuring emphysema

Abstract We have assessed between-observer and within-observer variations of three methods of measuring emphysema in paper mounted whole lung (Gough-Wentworth) sections. These methods were the Dunnill point count, the Ryder grid, and scoring against a panel of standards. The panel of standards was the quickest method and was as accurate as the other methods. This method requires the use of paper mounted whole lung sections, which can now be made easily using a recently devised modification of the Gough-Wentworth technique. The method is ideally suited to epidemiologic surveys as well as to routine diagnosis at necropsy.