%0 Journal Article
%T Geriatric Chest Imaging: When and How to Image the Elderly Lung, Age-Related Changes, and Common Pathologies
%A J. Gossner
%A R. Nau
%J Radiology Research and Practice
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/584793
%X Even in a global perspective, societies are getting older. We think that diagnostic lung imaging of older patients requires special knowledge. Imaging strategies have to be adjusted to the needs of frail patients, for example, immobility, impossibility for long breath holds, renal insufficiency, or poor peripheral venous access. Beside conventional radiography, modern multislice computed tomography is the method of choice in lung imaging. It is especially important to separate the process of ageing from the disease itself. Pathologies with a special relevance for the elderly patient are discussed in detail: pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the problem of overlapping heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary drug toxicity, incidental pulmonary embolism pulmonary nodules, and thoracic trauma. 1. Introduction The population in many societies is getting older. The United Nations estimate that the number of people older than 65 years will increase from 743 million in 2009 to 2 billions in 2050. At this time, there will be more people older than 65 years than children younger than 15 years [1]. In fact, around 15% of patients treated in German hospitals are already older than 80 years [2]. With age, the frequency of multimorbidity increases. Geriatric medicine uses the term frailty to describe the process of progredient loss of mental and physical performance making the patients more vulnerable to further disease [3]. Sometimes it is difficult to separate the process of ageing from disease itself. Therefore, diagnostic imaging of older patients requires special knowledge. In this review, after a short description of imaging strategies, ethical considerations, and the normal ageing processes of the lung, distinct pathologies with a special relevance for the elderly patient are discussed. 2. Imaging Strategies In contrast to younger people, handling of elderly patients is different and usually takes more time. In most cases, elderly patients have to be transferred to the radiology department and may need supervision while waiting. Positioning requires more time, and often patients need assistance. With bedridden patients, more than one person is needed for proper positioning. This need for more time and staff has to be kept in mind but is in most cases not reimbursed [4]. The ideal imaging test for elderly patient is fast and needs few changes in positioning. 2.1. Chest Radiography The standard examination in imaging of the lung is chest radiography with a
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/rrp/2013/584793/