Incomplete interlobar fissures: bronchovascular analysis with CT.
Thin-section computed tomographic scans of both lungs in 154 patients, including seven cadavers, with lung cancer (n = 37), diffuse (n = 32) or inflammatory (n = 30) lung disease, other proved or suspected disease (n = 23), or healthy lungs (n = 32) were analyzed to determine the frequency of incomplete interlobar fissure (IIF). An IIF was defined as a discontinuous linear shadow that remained in contact with the chest wall. An IIF was found in 128 of 154 right lungs (83.1%) and 77 of 154 left lungs (50.0%). Some bronchovascular structures crossed or passed through two contiguous lobes in the fused area. The most common bronchovascular structure associated with an IIF was a pulmonary vein; this association was found in 87 right lungs (56.5%) and 20 left lungs (13.0%). An IIF was traversed by a pulmonary artery in only seven right lungs and 13 left lungs or by a bronchus in only three lungs. It is concluded that recognition of an IIF might improve understanding of the spread of pulmonary disease.
Otsuji
H
H
Department of Radiology and Oncoradiology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
Uchida
H
H
Maeda
M
M
Iwasaki
S
S
Yoshiya
K
K
Hatakeyama
M
M
Ohishi
H
H
Iioka
S
S
Kitamura
S
S
Narita
N
N
D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D001995:Bronchography; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed