Pathology of the Trachea and Central Bronchi

A wide variety of disorders can affect the trachea and central bronchi. Computed tomography is the imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of tracheobronchial disease. Tracheobronchial abnormalities are sometimes incidentally detected on routine imaging or when imaging is performed for another reason. Abnormalities of the tracheobronchial tree, however, can be easily missed because they can be subtle. Furthermore, because symptoms in patients with tracheobronchial disorders often overlap symptoms of lung disease, radiologists may focus their attention on the lungs and overlook the tracheobronchial tree. In this article, we review a wide range of tracheobronchial diseases with emphasis on their computed tomographic appearances.