Technical Report No. 16-88
Manifestations of aging on serial chest radiography: A longitudinal investigation
Mihara F, Fukuya T, Nakata H, Mizuno S, Russell WJ, Hosoda YEditor’s note: Publications based on this report were published in Radiat Med 7:271-3, 1989, and Acta Radiol 34:53-8, 1993.
Summary
To ascertain serial changes on chest radiography attributable to aging, 16 parameters for cardiovascular and pulmonary structures were assessed at each of three posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographies; i.e., during clinical examinations 18.5 years previously, 10 years previously, and currently. The subjects consisted of 51 men and 149 women, all of whom were carefully screened healthy adults who ranged in age from 41 to 82 years at the latest examination. Four pulmonary parenchymal findings were also observed and evaluated and their prevalences were determined. In both sexes, the transverse cardiac diameter, transverse thoracic diameter, cardiothoracic ratio, aortic arch transverse diameter, thoracic aorta tortuosity, transverse and sagittal diameters of the trachea, transverse diameters of the right and left main-stem bronchi, and the anteroposterior diameter of the lung increased significantly from the initial to the final examination. In women, right lung height and right pulmonary artery width increased, and the tracheal bifurcation angle decreased-all significantly. The most marked interval change with age was an increase in aortic arch diameter, from an initial 28.0 to a final 32.6 mm in men, and from an initial 27.6 to a final 31.6 mm in women. The aortic arch diameters increased with age in 96% of the men and 90% of the women. These aging parameters which were detected in this study did not show any significant differences by radiation dose categories for either sex.
Initially, 13%, and finally 27%, of subjects had at least one of the four selected pulmonary parenchymal manifestations. Their prevalence did not differ significantly between smokers and nonsmokers.
To ascertain serial changes on chest radiography attributable to aging, 16 parameters for cardiovascular and pulmonary structures were assessed at each of three posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographies; i.e., during clinical examinations 18.5 years previously, 10 years previously, and currently. The subjects consisted of 51 men and 149 women, all of whom were carefully screened healthy adults who ranged in age from 41 to 82 years at the latest examination. Four pulmonary parenchymal findings were also observed and evaluated and their prevalences were determined. In both sexes, the transverse cardiac diameter, transverse thoracic diameter, cardiothoracic ratio, aortic arch transverse diameter, thoracic aorta tortuosity, transverse and sagittal diameters of the trachea, transverse diameters of the right and left main-stem bronchi, and the anteroposterior diameter of the lung increased significantly from the initial to the final examination. In women, right lung height and right pulmonary artery width increased, and the tracheal bifurcation angle decreased-all significantly. The most marked interval change with age was an increase in aortic arch diameter, from an initial 28.0 to a final 32.6 mm in men, and from an initial 27.6 to a final 31.6 mm in women. The aortic arch diameters increased with age in 96% of the men and 90% of the women. These aging parameters which were detected in this study did not show any significant differences by radiation dose categories for either sex.
Initially, 13%, and finally 27%, of subjects had at least one of the four selected pulmonary parenchymal manifestations. Their prevalence did not differ significantly between smokers and nonsmokers.