Patient-specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition data
BackgroundCurrent imaging and diagnostic methods are unable to visualize distal lung beyond the seventh branching generation, despite its critical role in lung function. Inter-individual variability in lung structure influences aerosol deposition within the alveolar region. Understanding an individu...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1611545/full |
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| author | S. G. Karthiga Devi S. G. Karthiga Devi Alladi Mohan Kalawat T.C Mahesh V. Panchagnula |
| author_facet | S. G. Karthiga Devi S. G. Karthiga Devi Alladi Mohan Kalawat T.C Mahesh V. Panchagnula |
| author_sort | S. G. Karthiga Devi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundCurrent imaging and diagnostic methods are unable to visualize distal lung beyond the seventh branching generation, despite its critical role in lung function. Inter-individual variability in lung structure influences aerosol deposition within the alveolar region. Understanding an individual’s lung dimensions enables the development of customized treatments. This constitutes the key motivation behind the study.MethodsThis study reports a method to estimate morphometric parameters associated with the distal lung using aerosol deposition characteristics. Aerosol deposition characteristics are measured in a cohort of healthy human subjects using gamma scintigraphy. From this data, differences in the aerosol deposition from subject to subject are quantified. Using a mathematical model of aerosol transport, we demonstrate a novel procedure to estimate patient-specific lung morphometric parameters of the distal generations of the human lung and average alveolar diameter.ResultsMorphometric parameters of the healthy subjects recruited in the study are determined. The lung volumes predicted using the morphometric parameters are unique and different for each subject as expected. The study also predicts the airway diameters and length at every generation for all of the subjects. From the predicted parameters for each of the individual, it can be clearly seen that the lung dimensions vary from individual to individual.ConclusionThe study demonstrates that measurements of aerosol deposition, especially in the distal generations, are a highly sensitive marker for inter-subject variability in lung morphology. The method presented in this study could be packaged into a walk-in lab test, the results from which could help physicians to personalize treatment and pulmonary drug dosage. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eaa397056637430e86567c2543106350 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eaa397056637430e86567c25431063502025-08-20T02:46:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-07-011610.3389/fphys.2025.16115451611545Patient-specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition dataS. G. Karthiga Devi0S. G. Karthiga Devi1Alladi Mohan2Kalawat T.C3Mahesh V. Panchagnula4Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, IndiaDepartment of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, IndiaDepartment of Medicine, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, IndiaDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, IndiaDepartment of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, IndiaBackgroundCurrent imaging and diagnostic methods are unable to visualize distal lung beyond the seventh branching generation, despite its critical role in lung function. Inter-individual variability in lung structure influences aerosol deposition within the alveolar region. Understanding an individual’s lung dimensions enables the development of customized treatments. This constitutes the key motivation behind the study.MethodsThis study reports a method to estimate morphometric parameters associated with the distal lung using aerosol deposition characteristics. Aerosol deposition characteristics are measured in a cohort of healthy human subjects using gamma scintigraphy. From this data, differences in the aerosol deposition from subject to subject are quantified. Using a mathematical model of aerosol transport, we demonstrate a novel procedure to estimate patient-specific lung morphometric parameters of the distal generations of the human lung and average alveolar diameter.ResultsMorphometric parameters of the healthy subjects recruited in the study are determined. The lung volumes predicted using the morphometric parameters are unique and different for each subject as expected. The study also predicts the airway diameters and length at every generation for all of the subjects. From the predicted parameters for each of the individual, it can be clearly seen that the lung dimensions vary from individual to individual.ConclusionThe study demonstrates that measurements of aerosol deposition, especially in the distal generations, are a highly sensitive marker for inter-subject variability in lung morphology. The method presented in this study could be packaged into a walk-in lab test, the results from which could help physicians to personalize treatment and pulmonary drug dosage.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1611545/fullpersonalized medicinegamma scintigraphyregional depositionmucocilliary clearanceinter-subject variability |
| spellingShingle | S. G. Karthiga Devi S. G. Karthiga Devi Alladi Mohan Kalawat T.C Mahesh V. Panchagnula Patient-specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition data Frontiers in Physiology personalized medicine gamma scintigraphy regional deposition mucocilliary clearance inter-subject variability |
| title | Patient-specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition data |
| title_full | Patient-specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition data |
| title_fullStr | Patient-specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient-specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition data |
| title_short | Patient-specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition data |
| title_sort | patient specific estimation of distal lung morphometry using aerosol deposition data |
| topic | personalized medicine gamma scintigraphy regional deposition mucocilliary clearance inter-subject variability |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1611545/full |
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