Variations of right bronchial tree: a study with multi-detector CT.

PURPOSE

The aim was to display variations of right bronchial tree.

METHODS

The bronchial tree images of 238 patients were reconstructed using the postprocessing technique of CT.

RESULTS

We revealed four cases rare bronchial branching patterns of right superior lobe. 1 case was referred to as tracheal bronchus. In 1 case, B1 was located in the place of the right superior lobar bronchus and B2 + 3 arose from the right merge of the IB. In 1 case, the right superior lobar bronchus has only two divisions for B1 and B3, and the bronchus B2 arose from the right merge of the IB. In 1 case, B1 branched into four bronchi. We revealed 15 cases of rare bronchial branching patterns of right inferior lobe. In nine cases, the basal trunk bronchus bifurcated into B7 + 8 and B9 + l0. In three cases, B8 branched from the basal trunk bronchus before B7. In two cases, basal trunk bronchus bifurcated into B7 + 8 + 9 and B10. In 1 case, the basal trunk bronchus bifurcated into the common stem of B7 + 10 and B8 + 9.

CONCLUSIONS

Variations of right bronchial tree were displayed in the present study. This information may have important implications for diagnosis of symptomatic patients and performing certain procedures, including bronchoscopy, endotracheal intubation, and lung resection.