Diagnostic Value of Multidetector CT and Its Multiplanar Reformation, Volume Rendering and Virtual Bronchoscopy Postprocessing Techniques for Primary Trachea and Main Bronchus Tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic value of multidetector CT (MDCT) and its multiplanar reformation (MPR), volume rendering (VR) and virtual bronchoscopy (VB) postprocessing techniques for primary trachea and main bronchus tumors.


METHODS
Detection results of 31 primary trachea and main bronchus tumors with MDCT and its MPR, VR and VB postprocessing techniques, were analyzed retrospectively with regard to tumor locations, tumor morphologies, extramural invasions of tumors, longitudinal involvements of tumors, morphologies and extents of luminal stenoses, distances between main bronchus tumors and trachea carinae, and internal features of tumors. The detection results were compared with that of surgery and pathology.


RESULTS
Detection results with MDCT and its MPR, VR and VB were consistent with that of surgery and pathology, included tumor locations (tracheae, n = 19; right main bronchi, n = 6; left main bronchi, n = 6), tumor morphologies (endoluminal nodes with narrow bases, n = 2; endoluminal nodes with wide bases, n = 13; both intraluminal and extraluminal masses, n = 16), extramural invasions of tumors (brokethrough only serous membrane, n = 1; 4.0 mm-56.0 mm, n = 14; no clear border with right atelectasis, n = 1), longitudinal involvements of tumors (3.0 mm, n = 1; 5.0 mm-68.0 mm, n = 29; whole right main bronchus wall and trachea carina, n = 1), morphologies of luminal stenoses (irregular, n = 26; circular, n = 3; eccentric, n = 1; conical, n = 1) and extents (mild, n = 5; moderate, n = 7; severe, n = 19), distances between main bronchus tumors and trachea carinae (16.0 mm, n = 1; invaded trachea carina, n = 1; >20.0 mm, n = 10), and internal features of tumors (fairly homogeneous densities with rather obvious enhancements, n = 26; homogeneous density with obvious enhancement, n = 1; homogeneous density without obvious enhancement, n = 1; not enough homogeneous density with obvious enhancement, n = 1; punctate calcification with obvious enhancement, n = 1; low density without obvious enhancement, n = 1).


CONCLUSIONS
MDCT and its MPR, VR and VB images have respective advantages and disadvantages. Their combination could complement to each other to accurately detect locations, natures (benignancy, malignancy or low malignancy), and quantities (extramural invasions, longitudinal involvements, extents of luminal stenoses, distances between main bronchus tumors and trachea carinae) of primary trachea and main bronchus tumors with crucial information for surgical treatment, are highly useful diagnostic methods for primary trachea and main bronchus tumors.
Department of Radiology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Mingyue
M
Luo
Research Center of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Chaijie
C
Duan
Department of Radiology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jianping
J
Qiu
Department of Radiology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Wenru
W
Li
Department of Radiology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Dongyun
D
Zhu
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Wenli
W
Cai
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology*; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology