Quantitative assessment of regional ventilation and perfusion in children with cystic fibrosis.

Twenty-five children aged 8 months to 17 years were studied to determine 
the usefulness of computer-assisted ventilation-perfusion (V-P) scanning in analysis of regional 
pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis. Ventilation and perfusion scintiphotographs were compared 
with the patients' radiographs. Regional fractional exchanges of air and relative 
regional V-P ratios were obtained. Whole-lung air-exchange was significantly correlated with 
standard pulmonary function tests and radiograph scores. Ventilation-perfusion ratio gradients were 
reversed in pats with predominantly upper zone disease, and regional V-P 
ratios were uneven in distribution. Quantitative assessment of regional ventilation and 
perfusion is a useful technique for assessing severity of pulmonary disease 
in children with cystic fibrosis. 