What are the two classic clinical descriptions of COPD patients and the radiographic features of each?
What are the two classic clinical descriptions of COPD patients and the radiographic features of each?
Pink puffer (oxygen saturation maintained with no carbon dioxide retention): marked emphysema, small heart, mild pulmonary arterial hypertensive changes
Blue bloater (oxygen saturation not maintained, and the patient has marked carbon dioxide retention): enlarged heart, absence of obviously hyperexpanded lungs, pul-monary plethora (pulmonary hypertension and effects of polycythemia)