The evaluation of tracheal abnormalities by tomography.

At present, linear plain-film tomography of the trachea is the method of choice for demonstrating the location of post-tracheostomy stenotic lesions and tracheal tumors. This technique does not further compromise the patient's respiratory status, as sometimes occurs with positive-contrast studies using iodine-containing materials, and the radiation dose to the patient from plain-film tomography is considerably less than that from xerotomography.