[Morphological analysis of the secondary pulmonary lobule with inflated fixed lung specimen. Part 1: Evaluation of the branching pattern and course of the intralobular pulmonary artery].
This study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between the pulmonary artery and airway by three-dimensional analysis of inflated fixed lung specimens. Lung blocks obtained from the subpleural and hilar areas were cut into slices 0.5 mm thick and radiographed. After tracing intralobular structures on these radiograms, trace data were transferred to a three-dimensional computer system. By observing each specimen and the three-dimensional reconstructed images, we analyzed the intralobular structures and the course of the pulmonary artery in particular. The lobular and intralobular pulmonary arteries closely followed the corresponding bronchial tree in the subpleural area. In contrast, lung areas supplied by the daughter bronchus showed a very different appearance. In these areas, the pulmonary artery and bronchus were usually separated from each other until the tip of terminal bronchiole. A pattern in which a single pulmonary lobule was supplied by a few pulmonary arterial branches was seen in 70% of the lobules. This information will help in the interpretation of HRCT (high-resolution CT) findings related to the bronchovascular bundle especially in the area supplied by the daughter bronchus.
Takahashi
M
M
Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science.
Murata
K
K
Morita
R
R
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*