title: Diseases of the trachea and main-stem bronchi: correlation of CT with pathologic findings.
abstract: This article presents the computed tomographic (CT) features of the most common abnormalities of the trachea and main-stem bronchi and correlates CT and pathologic findings. The abnormalities are classified into focal and diffuse. Focal disease tends to produce a decreased airway diameter, whereas diffuse diseases are divided into those that increase the airway diameter and those that decrease it. Conventional CT with 10-mm collimation was performed in 36 patients to assess their condition. Additional dynamic incremental thin-section (1.5-5.0-mm collimation) CT was performed in patients with focal abnormalities. Findings from conventional CT correlated closely with those from pathologic analysis of specimens from patients with diffuse disease, but dynamic thin-section scans are necessary for optimal assessment of focal abnormalities. CT demonstrates the location and extent of disease; helps characterize abnormal tissues; helps evaluate the thickness of the tracheal and bronchial walls; and helps determine the extent of extraluminal disease, including the presence of mediastinal extension and lymphadenopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology