title: [Computed tomography in endobronchial mucus accumulation].
abstract: To investigate the value of CT in depicting endobronchial mucoid collections, the authors retrospectively reviewed the CT scans of 22 patients, 14 with mucous plugs, 7 with mucoid pseudotumors, and one with a bronchocele due to bronchial atresia. Atelectasis could be seen in 11 of 14 patients with mucous plugs. In 12 of 14 patients with mucous plugs CT showed the involved bronchi filled by fluid representing abnormal mucus accumulation. In the patients with atelectasis CT showed mucus-filled bronchi as low-attenuation branching structures (mucoid bronchogram). All the mucoid pseudotumors appeared as low-attenuation (< 20 HU) polypoid wall lesions with no involvement of the bronchial walls. In a patient with bronchial atresia CT showed a solitary pulmonary nodule (representing the obstructed and dilated bronchus filled by mucus) surrounded by peripheral pulmonary hyperinflation. Characteristically, the endobronchial mucoid collections never enhanced after bolus contrast medium. Endobronchial mucoid collections had to be differentiated from endobronchial neoplasms. In some cases bronchoscopy was necessary to make the differential diagnosis. In conclusion, CT is a valuable tool with good sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing endobronchial mucoid collections.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Diagnostica per Immagini, Ospedale Piemonte, USL 42, Messina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minutoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stroscio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000002:abnormalities; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001995:Bronchography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009078:Mucocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016726:Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
vernacular_title: La tomografia computerizzata nella malattia da accumulo endobronchiale di muco.