title: Intrathoracic tracheal dimensions and shape changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Changes in intrathoracic tracheal dimensions and shape in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are commonly noted, but the cause is not clear. This study reveals a significantly larger lateral tracheal diameter (LTD) in patients with COPD. The larger LTD has a significant positive linear correlation with a larger lateral chest diameter. This finding supports the hypothesis that in patients with COPD the increase in volume of both lungs pressing on the mediastinum will exert a lateral pressure on the trachea, resulting in a decrease in frontal and an increase in the lateral trachea diameter. Patients with COPD have a smaller tracheal index: FTD/LTD (FTD: frontal tracheal diameter). Saber-sheath trachea (tracheal index < 2/3) is a specific radiographic diagnostic parameter for the diagnosis of COPD (specificity, 92.9%), although the sensitivity (39.1%) is low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Shieh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*