Topologic Parametric Response Mapping Identifies Tissue Subtypes Associated with Emphysema Progression

Abstract

ABSTRACTRationale and ObjectivesSmall airways disease (SAD) and emphysema are significant components of COPD, a heterogenous disease where predicting progression is difficult. SAD, a principal cause of airflow obstruction in mild COPD, has been identified as a precursor to emphysema. Parametric Response Mapping (PRM) of chest computed tomography (CT) can help distinguish SAD from emphysema. Specifically, topologic PRM can define local patterns of both diseases to characterize how and in whom COPD progresses. We aimed to determine if distribution of CT-based PRM of functional SAD (fSAD) is associated with emphysema progression.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed paired inspiratory-expiratory chest CT scans at baseline and 5-year follow up in 1495 COPDGene subjects using topological analyses of PRM classifications. By spatially aligning temporal scans, we mapped local emphysema at year 5 to baseline lobar PRM-derived topological readouts. K-means clustering was applied to all observations. Subjects were subtyped based on predominant PRM cluster assignments and assessed using non-parametric statistical tests to determine differences in PRM values, pulmonary function metrics and clinical measures.ResultsWe identified distinct lobar imaging patterns and classified subjects into three radiologic subtypes: emphysema-dominant (ED), fSAD-dominant (FD), and fSAD-transition (FT: transition from healthy lung to fSAD). Relative to year 5 emphysema, FT showed rapid local emphysema progression (−57.5% ± 1.1) compared to FD (−49.9% ± 0.5) and ED (−33.1% ± 0.4). FT consisted primarily of at-risk subjects (roughly 60%) with normal spirometry.ConclusionThe FT subtype of COPD may allow earlier identification of individuals without spirometrically-defined COPD at-risk for developing emphysema.