title: CT of saber-sheath trachea. Correlation with clinical, chest radiographic and functional findings.
abstract: The diagnosis of saber-sheath trachea is easy at CT due to its cross-sectional imaging, but the significance of this CT sign has not been evaluated in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Various signs of COPD were compared between a series of 20 patients with a saber-sheath trachea at CT (tracheal index < or = 66%) and a group of 20 pneumologic control patients without saber-sheath trachea (tracheal index > or = 70%). These signs included clinical and standard radiographic indices of COPD, sternum-spine distance and 3 functional tests of COPD: forced expiratory volume in one second, carbon monoxide diffusing lung capacity, and functional residual capacity (FRC). A significant difference was found between the 2 groups, concerning the values of FRC (p < 10(-4)) and of sternum-spine distance (p < 10(-2)). The tracheal index was significantly correlated with the FRC values (r = -0.611; p < 10(-5)) and with the sternum-spine distance (r = -0.322; p < 0.05). No other significant difference was observed. It is concluded that saber-sheath trachea is basically a sign of hyperinflation.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiologie, Cliniques Universitaires UCL Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Trigaux
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hermes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Beers
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delaunois
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jamart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014132:Trachea / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*