Interpretation of the Flow-Volume Loop
We will only discuss the interpretation of the most important test (Forced Vital Capacity) and the most important conditions: Obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease. We also discuss the typical shape of the flow-volume loop in cases of mixed lung disease and obstruction of the large airways.
The spirometry parameters are discussed on another page.
Normal Spirometry
A normal flow-volume loop:
A normal Flow-Volume loop begins on the X-axis (Volume axis): at the start of the test both flow and volume are equal to zero. After the starting point the curve rapidly mounts to a peak: Peak (Expiratory) Flow.
After the PEF the curve descends (=the flow diminishes) as more air is expired. A normal, non-pathological F/V loop will descend in a straight or a convex line from top (PEF) to bottom (FVC).
The forced inspiration that follows the forced expiration has roughly the same morphology, but the PIF (Peak Inspiratory Flow) is not as distinct as PEF.
A normal volume-time loop:
Obstructive Lung Disease
In patients with obstructive lung disease, the small airways are partially obstructed by a pathological condition. The most common forms are asthma and COPD.
A patient with obstructive lung disease typically has a concave F/V loop.
is concave, FEF25-75 too low, FVC normal
The air in the large airways can be expired without problems, so the PEF is will be normal.
When all the air is expired from the large airways, air from the smaller airways will be expired. With obstructive lung disease, these airways are partially blocked, so the air will come out slower (try blowing out through a straw!).
This will result in a lower flow and a (more or less) sharp fall in the flow-volume .
FEV1 and FEF25-75 will be too low.
Typically the patient will have a normal FVC.
The FET (Forced Expiratory Time) will be higher due to the lower flow but equal volume.
A Tiffeneau index (FEV1/FVC x 100) of less than 70% is very suggestive for obstructive lung disease.
A bronchodilator test will be necessary for a more accurate diagnosis.
Restrictive Lung Disease
Restrictive lung disease means that the total lung volume is too low. Although an accurate diagnoses of total lung volume is not possible with spirometry (residual lung volume cannot be measured with a spirometer) spirometry results can be very suggestive for a restrictive lung disease.
Since the airways are normal, the flow volume loop will have a normal shape: the curve will descend in a straight line from the PEF to the X-axis.
shape normal, FVC low
Total lung volume is low, which results in a low FVC. PEF can be normal or low.
FEV1 is equally lowered than FVC, so the Tiffeneau index will be normal or even raised.
FEV1 too low, FET normal
Mixed Lung Disease
Often patients will show signs of both obstructive and restrictive lung disease. The flow-volume loop will have characteristics of both syndromes.
FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75 too low
Large Airway Obstruction
A typical shape of the flow-volume loop is seen in cases of obstruction of the large airways.
Three different shapes of flow-volume loops can be distinguished.
Variable Extrathoracic Obstruction
Typically the expiratory part of the F/V-loop is normal: the obstruction is pushed outwards by the force of the expiration.
During inspiration the obstruction is sucked into the trachea with partial obstruction and flattening of the inspiratory part of the flow-volume loop.
This is seen in cases of vocal cord paralysis, extrathoracic goiter and laryngeal tumours.
Variable Intrathoracic Obstruction
This is the opposite situation of the extrathoracic obstruction. A tumour located near the intrathoracic part of the trachea is sucked outwards during inspiration with a normal morphology of the inspiratory part of F/V-loop.
During expiration the tumour is pushed into the trachea with partial obstruction and flattening of the expiratory part of the F/V loop.
Fixed Large Airway Obstruction
This can be both intrathoracic as extrathoracic.
The flow-volume loop is typically flattened during inspiration and expiration.
Examples are tracheal stenosis caused by intubation and a circular tracheal tumour.
