[Volume CT: recent advances in acquired abnormalities of the trachea].
OBJECTIVE
To show the recent improvements in CT imaging of the trachea due to the introduction of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).


METHODS
MDCT technology, which was introduced in the early 00's, allows acquiring the entire airways within few seconds while using low dose parameters thanks to the natural high contrast of the airways.


RESULTS
Volume acquisition with isotropic voxels offers an excellent anatomical resolution in all directions, improving the quality of multiplanar reformations and 3D reconstructions, including virtual bronchoscopy. Therefore, the ability of CT for detecting and localizing tracheal abnormalities are improved, which is useful for planning endoscopy or open surgery, or assess their results. Dynamic acquisition during expiration is the last refinement permitted by MDCT, which is of value to detect tracheomalacia.


CONCLUSIONS
MDCT is a non-invasive technique to image the trachea. Its applications are numerous, such as depiction of anatomical or functional abnormalities, evaluation of local extent of the disease, planning and assessing open surgery or interventional endoscopy.
Ferretti
G-R
GR
Service central de radiologie et imagerie médicale, CHU de Grenoble, BP 217, 38043 Grenoble cedex 09, France. gferretti@chu-grenoble.fr
Pison
C
C
Righini
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*