Okajima Y, Come CE, Nardelli P, et al. - In an attempt to define the links of luminal plugging, detected on chest computed tomography (CT), with lung function, health-related quality of life, and COPD phenotypes, researchers analyzed participants from the COPDGene Study. They examined randomly picked 100 smokers without COPD and 400 with COPD. At baseline and five-year follow-up, luminal plugging was visually recognized on inspiratory CT scans. Luminal plugging was present in 111 individuals (22%). Findings revealed the link of CT-identified luminal plugging with airflow obstruction, worse health-related quality of life, and emphysema phenotype among individuals suffering from COPD. The current clinical evaluation of chronic mucus hypersecretion in COPD may be supplemented by this imaging feature.