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Evaluation of the Physiological Changes in the Central Airway on Multi-Detector Computed Tomography
Yahua Li1, Lei Li1, Zihe Zhou1
1Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Background:
Most data about the trachea are collected during deep inspiration breath holding (DIBH) using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). Images of the physiological changes in the central airway are lacking.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to explore the physiological changes in the central airway on MDCT during DIBH and deep expiration breath holding (DEBH).
Method:
The data from 62 patients (38 men and 24 women) who underwent enhanced computed tomography in our hospital were collected. Patients were grouped according to sex and age (18-45, 46-60, and >61 years). Anteroposterior diameter (APD) and transverse diameter (TD) at 3 levels (cricoid, intrathoracic inlet, and 2 cm above the carina), tracheal length, bronchial length, and subcarina angle (SCA) were measured.
Results:
The average length of the trachea from the cricoid cartilage to the carina was 103.91 ± 10.37 mm at DEBH and 108.63 ± 11.31 mm at DIBH (p < 0.001). The APD of the trachea at the level of the cricoid, intrathoracic inlet, and 2 cm above the carina showed no differences between DEBH and DIBH. The TD of the trachea at the level of the cricoid, intrathoracic inlet, and 2 cm above the carina showed no differences between DEBH and DIBH. The average length of the right main bronchus during DEBH and DIBH was measured as 13.21 ± 3.60 and 13.24 ± 3.49 mm, respectively (p = 0.956). The average length of the left main bronchus at DEBH and DIBH was measured as 44.19 ± 5.50 and 44.27 ± 5.11 mm, respectively (p = 0.929). The average SCA was 81.74 ± 14.56 at DIBH, while it was 80.53 ± 14.38 at DEBH. The change in SCA between DIBH and DEBH showed no significant difference (p = 0.642).
Conclusions:
The APD at the level of the intrathoracic inlet is larger than that at the cricoid and 2 cm above the carina, while the TD is the opposite. These findings about the trachea and bronchus in our study may contribute to bronchoscopy examinations, tube applications, stent design, and stenting.
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