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. 2010 Apr;28(3):188-92.
doi: 10.1007/s11604-009-0405-5. Epub 2010 May 1.

Radioanatomical study of a true tracheal bronchus using multidetector computed tomography

Masayuki Suzuki  1 , Osamu Matsui, Hiroko Kawashima, Akihiro Takemura, Kosuke Matsubara, Norio Hayashi, Wataru Koda, Yoshihiro Shibata
Affiliations

Radioanatomical study of a true tracheal bronchus using multidetector computed tomography

Masayuki Suzuki et al. Jpn J Radiol. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: True tracheal bronchus (TTB) is a rare anomaly in which a lobar or segmental ectopic bronchus arises from the trachea. We examined the frequency and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) appearances of TTB.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 9781 chest MDCT examinations. In cases in which there was an abnormal bronchus suggesting TTB on axial CT images, the following imaging of the abnormal bronchi was undertaken: multiplanar reformation (MPR), multiprojection volume reconstruction (MPVR), volume rendering (VR), and virtual endoscopy (VE).

Results: Of 9781 MDCT examinations, 30 TTBs were observed in 10 females and 20 males. The frequency of TTB was 0.21% among 4622 females, 0.39% among 5159 males (0.31 % in the overall patient population). TTBs arose from the right lateral wall of the trachea; 17 TTBs were of the displaced type and 13 of the supernumerary type. With the displaced type, all segments of the right upper lobe were supplied by the TTB in 8 patients, and the apical segment was supplied in 8 patients. With the supernumerary type, TTBs showed blind termination in 10 patients, and the TTB had a small lobule in 3 patients. All TTBs were clearly visualized on MPR, MPVR, VR, and VE.

Conclusion: TTB was identified by MDCT with an incidence of 0.31%.

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