Computed tomography findings of tracheobronchial system diseases: a pictorial essay

Abstract

The diseases affecting the trachea and main bronchi can be categorized into congenital or acquired abnormalities and also into focal or diffuse diseases. Major congenital bronchial abnormalities cover accessory cardiac bronchus and tracheal bronchus. Tracheobronchial strictures, such as post-intubation and post-infectious stenosis and tracheobronchial neoplasms are regarded as focal diseases, whereas tracheobronchomegaly, relapsing polychondritis, tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica, amyloidosis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, tracheobronchomalacia, saber-sheath trachea and tracheobronchitis associated with ulcerative colitis are examples of diffuse diseases. Computed tomography (CT) is the best non-invasive method for evaluation of tracheobronchial lesions. In this pictorial review we aimed to demonstrate CT features of central airway diseases.

Diode laser ablation of a tracheal osteochondroma in a dog

“…Endoscopy or computed tomography (CT) are useful complementary diagnostic procedures to facilitate biopsy and appraisal of the extent of the mass, or to show anatomical details of the involved region and evaluate extension of the mass, respectively (Roach & Krahwinkel 2009, Wu & Shepard 2013, Acar et al 2015. In the present case, the owner declined radiography and CT of the trachea because of the costs involved; and the tumour was initially missed.…”

“…Since it is not possible to differentiate between inflammatory processes and benign or malignant neoplasms radiographically, the differential diagnosis for abnormal densities in the tracheal region should include foreign bodies, cysts, abscesses, granulomas, haematomas or neoplasia (Suter 1984, Fossum 2002, Pink 2006, Roach & Krahwinkel 2009, Aulakh et al 2011, Lynch et al 2015. Endoscopy or CT are useful complementary diagnostic procedures to facilitate biopsy and appraisal of the extent of the mass, or to show anatomical details of the involved region and evaluate extension of the mass, respectively (Roach & Krahwinkel 2009, Wu & Shepard 2013, Acar et al 2015. In the present case, the owner declined radiography and CT of the trachea because of the costs involved, and the tumour was initially undetected.…”

Does duration of mechanical ventilation affect the resection length in benign tracheal stenosis?

“…The best imaging technique in tracheal disease is CT and its sensitivity is approximately 97% in main airways pathologies. [13] Tracheal lumen smaller than 2 cm is a typical finding of stenosis in CT in adults. [13] Nevertheless, the sensitivity of virtual bronchoscopy was reported to be between 63% and 100% in the literature and superiority of this technique against bronchoscopy is its being a noninvasive method.…”

“…[13] Tracheal lumen smaller than 2 cm is a typical finding of stenosis in CT in adults. [13] Nevertheless, the sensitivity of virtual bronchoscopy was reported to be between 63% and 100% in the literature and superiority of this technique against bronchoscopy is its being a noninvasive method. [14] We conducted rigid bronchoscopy as the first choice in our patients since bronchoscopic dilatation was performed in all patients before surgery.…”

Saber-sheath trachea as a challenge for safe surgery: A case report

“…Later on, the CT showed a saber-sheath trachea. As can be seen from the literature, CT is the imaging modality of choice for trachea [11][12][13][14]. It shows the tracheal anatomy, but also enables good evaluation of adjacent mediastinal structures and intrathoracic masses that may compress the trachea or invade its walls.…”