This prospective study established reference values for CT-derived lung ventilation and compared them with standard pulmonary function test (PFT) measurements. A total of 103 healthy adults underwent spirometry-guided inspiratory and expiratory CT scans, and 91 participants were included in the final analysis. Lung ventilation was calculated from changes in air volume between inspiration and expiration, whereas CT-derived lung volumes were compared with total lung capacity, residual volume, and vital capacity measured by PFTs.
Mean CT-derived ventilation was 59.5%, corresponding to a reference range of 42.1%–72.5%. CT-derived lung volumes were consistently lower than those obtained with PFTs, although the two methods showed strong correlations. Ventilation decreased with increasing age and increased slightly with height. Regional analysis demonstrated higher ventilation values in the lower lung lobes and in the posterior lung regions.
Overall, the study provides normative reference values for CT-derived ventilation and shows that demographic, anatomical, and gravitational factors significantly influence regional lung ventilation.