Air trapping (retention of inspired air during expiration) is usually associated with small conducting airways disease. However, limited information exists on integrity of acinar airways (i.e., alveolar ducts and sacs) in lung regions affected by air trapping. In this study we combine novel CT and MRI metrics to understand the sub-lobar level relationships between MR-derived acinar anatomy and CT-based air trapping metrics. We studied healthy non-smokers, smokers and COPD subjects and found significant associations between air trapping and acinar airways shallowing in upper and middle lungs in all groups but very little association in lower lung, except for COPD patients.
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