The Role of Imaging Tests in Severe Asthma

Abstract

Radiological examinations are a useful tool in the evaluation of asthma, its comorbidities, severity and potential complications, as well as in the establishment of differential diagnoses. Imaging findings on chest radiographs and especially on computed tomography can be detected in asthma and other conditions that may coexist, complicate or represent differential diagnoses from a clinical or imaging point of view, such as chronic rhinosinusitis, excessive dynamic collapse of the airways, tracheobronchomalacia, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and eosinophilic pneumonia. The imaging patterns of asthma allow inferring its severity and extent and detecting its complications, also enabling monitoring the response to therapy. The tomographic patterns of other asthmatic conditions make it possible to make a correct diagnosis and provide appropriate management and treatment. In addition, radiological imaging modalities can be used to monitor the response to therapy.