[Radiology of bronchiectasis]

Bronchiectasis is an irreversible bronchial dilatation. It is chronically progressive through a vicious circle of secretion retention, infection, inflammation and structural damage. The underlying causes are diverse and the severity of the disease is variable, which makes both the diagnostics and treatment challenging. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis and can be helpful in clarifying the etiology. The type of bronchiectasis, the distribution of the bronchiectasis within the lungs and associated findings are particularly relevant. Imaging is also important in monitoring the progression of bronchiectasis. In the usual report of the findings this is carried out visually and descriptively, while semiquantitative scores and computer-aided quantitative analysis of the respiratory tract enable a more precise assessment and are used in particular for clinical studies.

• Dettmer, S.