Vertical fissure: computed tomographic observation and correlation with chest radiography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess radiographic and computed tomography (CT) findings of the vertical fissure.


METHODS
We assessed whether the vertical fissures appeared as a fine linear shadow or as a linear edge with lateral opacity and medial lucency on chest radiographs. The CT scans were evaluated for the presence of volume loss in the lower lobes and for the presence of a portion of the fissure that is orientated tangential to the X-ray beam.


RESULTS
We observed vertical fissures in six patients. CT studies revealed volume loss in the lower lobes in all patients and showed the presence of a portion of the fissure that is orientated tangential to the X-ray beam in only two patients whose vertical fissures were not associated with lateral opacity and medial lucency on chest radiographs.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that the vertical fissure is closely related to volume loss in the lower lobe and represents the edge of the anterobasal segment of a major fissure or a portion of the fissure that is orientated tangential to the X-ray beam, with or without lateral opacity and medial lucency.
Kurihara
Yasuyuki
Y
Department of Radiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan. y4kuri@marianna-u.ac.jp
Matsuoka
Shin
S
Yagihashi
Kunihiro
K
Yakushiji
Yoshiko K
YK
Nakajima
Yasuo
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*