Azygos lobe: exploring the bronchial supply and clinical implications

An azygos lobe is a rare pulmonary variation that typically presents in the superior lobe of the right lung. Most literature on azygos lobe cases consists of radiologic X-ray or computed tomography findings, with only a few reports based on cadaveric dissections. Here, we report a cadaveric dissection of a right azygos lobe identified in a 77-year-old female anatomical body donor. The azygos lobe was medially located, superior to the hilum, and measured 8.5 cm in length and 4.0 cm in width. The lobe was solely supplied by a subsegmental bronchus from the apical segmental bronchus, which was further divided into two sub-subsegmental bronchial supplies. Prior reports indicate a potential relationship between the azygos lobe and cardiopulmonary pathology or genetic conditions, and further investigation of the bronchial supply may provide insight.