diagnosis of emphysema

[dickk]

I have been diagnosed with emphysema based on spirometry testing. My chest x-ray indicated a flattened diaphragm also. I also have a separation of the rectus muscles. Could these muscles be the cause of my shortness of breath and not emphysema?  Are there other tests , such as lung biopsy, that would confirm lung tissue damage, other than just spirometry?

[National Jewish Health]

Spirometry, when properly performed, is a good test to detect and quantify emphysema.  A flattened diaphragm is one feature of emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with enlarged lungs.  Separation of the rectus abdominus muscles can impair one's breathing, especially if it results in a large hernia.  These are important muscles for exhalation or exhalation.

If the diagnosis was made by simple spirometry, you may need more complete pulmonary function tests (PFTs) with the determination of lung volumes and diffusing capacity.  A CT scan of the lungs could confirm the diagnosis but, ordinarily, is not necessary when the PFTs are diagnostic.

[hardware2]

My copd was diagnosed sort of in reverse of the typical testing progression. I quit smoking 4+ years ago but had smoked for over 25 years. I scheduled EBT CT heart and lung scans on my own at a place called Milwaukee Heart Scan (there are similar scan companies located in many major cities). The heart scan was only $199 and the lung scan was an extra $100. You'd pay mega-bucks more if these scans were done at a regular hospital. From what I've read, there are now pretty fast CT scanners but the EBT type gives less radiation and is excellent for these types of scans. In any event, my lung scan showed some early emphysemateous changes and I had pulmonary functions tests done as a result - the results of which correlated with the scan findings.