Study on Anatomical Variations in Fissures of Lung by CT Scan

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Thoracic Imaging
• Anatomical Variations

Background:

• Modern computed tomography (CT) imaging advancements increase the detection of lung fissure anatomical variations.
• Most previous studies on lung fissures were cadaveric, with limited research using chest CT images.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and patterns of anatomical variations in lung fissures using chest CT images.
• To provide data that can aid in reducing postoperative complications in lung resection surgeries.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzing CT scans of 560 patients over two years.
• Exclusion criteria included distorted lung anatomy or incomplete visualization.
• A single radiologist reviewed all images for the presence and continuity of normal and accessory pulmonary fissures.

Main Results:

• Fissural variations were detected in 22.9% of cases (128/560).
• Variations were more common in the right lung (54.7%) than the left (45.3%).
• The most frequent variation was an incomplete right oblique fissure (8.4%), and the inferior accessory fissure was the most common accessory fissure.

Conclusions:

• Anatomical variations of lung fissures are more prevalent in the right lung compared to the left.
• Accessory fissures demonstrate a higher incidence on the right side.
• CT-based detection of these variations is essential for surgical planning and patient safety.