[Quantitative radioaerosol lung imaging in healthy subjects and in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (author's transl)].

A quantitative method for study of the penetration, deposition pattern and clearance of inhaled particles (O,5-micron-99Tc-labeled human serum millimicrospheres) in the lung is described. 10 healthy subjects and 15 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) were studied. For both groups significant differences in the mean values of two indices describing peripheral particle penetration and particle distribution homogeneity were observed. Mucociliary efficiency has been assessed by evaluating aerosol clearance rates from the whole right lung and from upper, middle, lower, perihilar and peripheral zones of the right lung field. Whereas the total lung clearance of both groups showed no marked difference, there was a statistical significant clearance delay in the patient's group upper and peripheral lung area.