title: Evaluation of tracheal stenosis: comparison between computed tomography virtual tracheobronchoscopy with multiplanar reformatting, flexible tracheofiberoscopy and intra-operative findings.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare various helical CT display modes [virtual endoscopy (VE)] and multiplanar reformations (MPR), conventional flexible tracheobronchoscopy (FT) and intra-operative (IO) findings in patients with tracheal stenosis and to analyze the advantage of MPR and VE in diagnosis and treatment planning and in postoperative follow-up. Thirty-seven patients with tracheal stenosis underwent standard neck and chest CT followed by MPR and VE. Results were correlated with the results of FT and IO findings. Thirty-three of the 37 stenoses were correctly graded and measured adequately using VE. Complete correlation among CT, fiberoptic tracheoscopy, and surgery of stenosis grading, stenosis length and length of planned resection segment of the trachea was noted between 33 of 37 patients with tracheal stenosis. Correlation between VE and IO was noted in 35 of 37 patients and between FT and VE was noted in 33 of 37 patients with tracheal stenosis. The sensitivity of VE was 94-97%, specificity was 100% with comparison to IO findings. The sensitivity and accuracy of MPR was 86-89% and specificity was 100% with comparison to FT findings. The results of the study indicate that VE is an excellent, consistent, and objective technique. VE with MPR is very useful in diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning in patients with tracheal stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 str., 20-090, Lublin, Poland. kamal1@op.pl
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morshed
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trojanowska
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szymański
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trojanowski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szymańska
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smoleń
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult