Evaluating bronchial drainage pathways in patients with lung disease using digital subtraction angiography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the venous drainage pathways of the bronchial circulation during bronchial embolotheraphy or infusion therapy.


METHODS
The subjects consisted of 21 patients with lung disorders. All of them underwent bronchial arteriography for drug infusion or embolization. Bronchial arteriography was done using both cut-film and digital subtraction methods.


RESULTS
The venous drainage pathways of arteriograms could be determined in 15 (71%) patients and classified into the four types: type 1, direct drainage into a pulmonary vein; type 2, drainage into a pulmonary artery with antegrade flow; type 3, drainage into a pulmonary artery with retrograde flow; and type 4, drainage into a bronchial vein. No drainage route could be identified in six (29%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Digital subtraction angiography can depict the venous drainage pathways in most patients. Drainage occurs into a pulmonary vein in the majority of patients.
Department of Radiology, Kyoto City Hospital, Japan.
F
F
Tanaka
K
K
Hayakawa
Y
Y
Satoh
Y
Y
Okuno
T
T
Torizuka
H
H
Saitoh
K
K
Fujiwara
M
M
Mitsumori
T
T
Misaki
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001980:Bronchi / Q000098:blood supply*; D001981:Bronchial Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology