ABSTRACT
The clinical role of imaging in asthma is currently limited to the detection of
complications of asthma and to the exclusion of alternative diagnoses.
However, as imaging techniques are developed and refined, the role of imag-
ing in asthma, particularly in asthma research, may expand. In the follow-
ing, the technical considerations and clinical applications of the two most common imaging modalities for the evaluation of asthma are discussed.
Chest radiography is the most widely used imaging modality in asthma
but provides limited information. Chest computed tomography (CT) has
the potential to provide more information, but due to the relatively high-
radiation dose, should be used judiciously. Although imaging plays a limited
role in the clinical management of asthma, the potential role of imaging in
asthma research is expanding as existing technologies such as CT are refined
and new imaging modalities for the lung are developed.
