Department of Medical Imaging, Chi-Mei Medical Center, No. 901, Chung Hwa Road, Yong-Kang, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
Eur J Radiol. 2012 Oct;81(10):2673-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2011.10.013. Epub 2011 Nov 17.
To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of paratracheal air cysts and their association with emphysema and gender in a general population using low-dose computed tomography scanning of the chest.
We retrospectively enrolled a total of 924 patients (584 women, 340 men; mean age, 59.73 years; range, 37-89 years) who had received low-dose computed tomography scanning for health examination during the period January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010. Computed tomographic images were evaluated for the presence of paratracheal air cysts. If paratracheal air cysts were identified, the lungs were reconstructed as a three-dimensional model on a commercial workstation. An emphysema index, an objective quantification of the extent of emphysematous changes on CT imaging, was defined as the percentage area of lung with attenuation values below -950 Hounsfield units.
A total of 60 patients with paratracheal air cysts were included in this study (estimated prevalence, 6.5%; 12 men, 48 women; mean age, 59.85; range 45-89 years). Emphysema index differed significantly between genders (P<0.0001). The prevalence of paratracheal air cysts in men was significantly lower than that in women (P=0.005); however, the emphysema index in patients of both genders showed no evidence of emphysema. The majority (95%) of paratracheal air cysts were at the level of the seventh cervical to the second thoracic vertebrae.
The presence of paratracheal air cysts is a common condition in general populations and should not be misdiagnosed as abnormal paratracheal free air. Paratracheal air cysts are more common in woman than in man. In our study, there is no patient with paratracheal air cysts has CT evidence of emphysema.
本研究旨在通过低剂量胸部 CT 扫描评估人群中气管旁空气囊肿的发生率、特征及其与肺气肿和性别之间的相关性。
我们回顾性分析了 2010 年 1 月 1 日至 6 月 30 日期间因健康体检行低剂量胸部 CT 扫描的 924 例患者（女性 584 例，男性 340 例；平均年龄 59.73 岁；范围 37-89 岁）。评估 CT 图像中是否存在气管旁空气囊肿。如果存在气管旁空气囊肿，则在商业工作站上对肺部进行三维重建。肺气肿指数定义为 CT 图像上肺气肿改变的程度，即衰减值低于-950 个单位的肺区面积百分比。
本研究共纳入 60 例气管旁空气囊肿患者（估计患病率为 6.5%；男性 12 例，女性 48 例；平均年龄 59.85 岁；范围 45-89 岁）。不同性别之间的肺气肿指数差异有统计学意义（P<0.0001）。男性气管旁空气囊肿的患病率明显低于女性（P=0.005），但男女患者的肺气肿指数均无肺气肿证据。95%的气管旁空气囊肿位于第 7 颈椎至第 2 胸椎水平。
气管旁空气囊肿在一般人群中较为常见，不应误诊为异常的气管旁游离气体。女性比男性更常见气管旁空气囊肿。在我们的研究中，没有患者的 CT 有肺气肿的证据。
