Coppola V, Vallone G, Coscioni E, Coppola M, Maraziti G, Alfinito M, Di Benedetto G
Istituto di Scienze Radiologiche, Università degli Studi Federico II, Napoli.
Radiol Med. 1998 May;95(5):461-5.
We evaluated the mean value and the variability range of the tracheal bifurcation angle by patient gender, age, height, weight, build, body area and max transverse diameter of the chest under normal conditions. We also evaluated tracheal bifurcation angle changes in orthostatism and recumbency, as well as in the different respiratory phases. Finally, we investigated the statistical correlation between the tracheal bifurcation angle value and the left atrial volume, to eventually derive either value from the other.
We reviewed 700 high-voltage radiographs of the chest performed in 500 patients with normal echocardiographic findings from 1986 to 1990. To analyze the relationships with the left atrium, 100 patients with echocardiographically enlarged atrium were submitted to high-voltage radiography. The tracheal bifurcation angle was measured directly.
Mediastinal radiographs nearly always depict the trachea and extraparenchymal bronchi adequately. The tracheal bifurcation angle should be measured continuing and joining the upper and lower parabronchial contours. A 4-degree deviation is accepted between the upper or interbronchial and lower or carinal angles since the angles formed by parallel segments have the same value. Under normal conditions the absolute mean value of the tracheal bifurcation angle was 79.7 degrees and the range 37-105 degrees.
In normal patients the mean value of the tracheal bifurcation angle: is independent of age and gender; depends on build; is related to the max transverse diameter of the chest and to body area; exhibits no major radiographic changes in orthostatism versus recumbency; exhibits no major radiographic changes in expiration versus inspiration; is correlated with left atrial volume, but the value is not statistically significant.
我们评估了在正常情况下，根据患者性别、年龄、身高、体重、体型、体表面积和胸部最大横径得出的气管分叉角度的平均值和变异范围。我们还评估了立位和卧位以及不同呼吸阶段气管分叉角度的变化。最后，我们研究了气管分叉角度值与左心房容积之间的统计相关性，以便最终能由其中一个值推导出另一个值。
我们回顾了1986年至1990年期间500例超声心动图检查结果正常的患者所进行的700张胸部高电压X光片。为了分析与左心房的关系，对100例超声心动图显示心房增大的患者进行了高电压X光检查。直接测量气管分叉角度。
纵隔X光片几乎总能充分显示气管和肺实质外支气管。气管分叉角度应通过连接上下支气管轮廓线来持续测量。由于平行线段形成的角度值相同，所以上支气管间角度与下支气管或隆突角度之间允许有4度的偏差。在正常情况下，气管分叉角度的绝对平均值为79.7度，范围为37 - 105度。
在正常患者中，气管分叉角度的平均值：与年龄和性别无关；取决于体型；与胸部最大横径和体表面积有关；在立位与卧位时无明显的X光变化；在呼气与吸气时无明显的X光变化；与左心房容积相关，但该值无统计学意义。
