Diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the Swiss guidelines. Official guidelines of the Swiss Respiratory Society

The new Swiss Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Guidelines are based on a previous version, which was published 10 years ago. The Swiss Respiratory Society felt the need to update the previous document due to new knowledge and novel therapeutic developments about this prevalent and important disease. The recommendations and statements are based on the available literature, on other national guidelines and, in particular, on the GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) report. Our aim is to advise pulmonary physicians, general practitioners and other health care workers on the early detection and diagnosis, prevention, best symptomatic control, and avoidance of COPD as well as its complications and deterioration.

Clinical Use of Quantitative Computed Tomography–Based Finite Element Analysis of the Hip and Spine in the Management of Osteoporosis in Adults: the 2015 ISCD Official Positions—Part II

The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) has developed new official positions for the clinical use of quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-based finite element analysis of the spine and hip. The ISCD task force for QCT reviewed the evidence for clinical applications and presented a report with recommendations at the 2015 ISCD Position Development Conference. Here we discuss the agreed upon ISCD official positions with supporting medical evidence, rationale, controversy, and suggestions for further study. Parts I and III address the clinical use of QCT of the hip, and the clinical feasibility of existing techniques for opportunistic screening of osteoporosis using CT scans obtained for other diagnosis such as colonography was addressed.

Clinical Use of Quantitative Computed Tomography–Based Advanced Techniques in the Management of Osteoporosis in Adults: the 2015 ISCD Official Positions—Part III

The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) has developed new official positions for the clinical use of computed tomography (CT) scans acquired without a calibration phantom, for example, CT scans obtained for other diagnosis such as colonography. This also addresses techniques suggested for opportunistic screening of osteoporosis. The ISCD task force for quantitative CT reviewed the evidence for clinical applications of these new techniques and presented a report with recommendations at the 2015 ISCD Position Development Conference. Here we discuss the agreed upon ISCD official positions with supporting medical evidence, rationale, controversy, and suggestions for further study. Advanced techniques summarized as statistical parameter mapping methods were also reviewed. Their future use is promising but the clinical application is premature. The clinical use of QCT of the hip is addressed in part I and of finite element analysis of the hip and spine in part II.

Clinical Use of Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) of the Hip in the Management of Osteoporosis in Adults: the 2015 ISCD Official Positions—Part I

The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) has developed new official positions for the clinical use of quantitative computed tomography of the hip. The ISCD task force for quantitative computed tomography reviewed the evidence for clinical applications and presented a report with recommendations at the 2015 ISCD Position Development Conference. Here, we discuss the agreed on ISCD official positions with supporting medical evidence, rationale, controversy, and suggestions for further study. Parts II and III address the advanced techniques of finite element analysis applied to computed tomography scans and the clinical feasibility of existing techniques for opportunistic screening of osteoporosis using computed tomography scans obtained for other diagnosis such as colonography was addressed.