Abstract
BackgroundFor thoracic surgeons, three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3-DCTBA) is a convenient way to analyze pulmonary variations before segmentectomy. Mediastinal lingular artery (MLA) is one of the representative variations.MethodsThe 3-DCTBA data of left upper lobe (LUL) were collected from patients who underwent pulmonary surgery from January 2018 to December 2019. We reviewed the patterns of bronchi and pulmonary vessels and grouped them according to different classifications.ResultsAmong all the 404 cases of 3-DCTBA, mediastinal lingular artery (MLA) was found in 107 cases (26.49%). The patterns of B3 and the vein in left upper division (LUD) are distinct between mediastinal (M-type) group and interlobar (IL-type) group. The patterns of bronchi and veins in lingular division, as well as the pattern of pulmonary artery in LUD, have no differences between M-type and IL-type groups.ConclusionsMediastinal lingular artery is speculated to originate from the variation of B3, and the MLA independently influences the venous pattern in LUD in turn.
Highlights
The development of three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3-DCTBA) imaging brings convenience for thoracic surgeons to know the precise anatomical relationship among bronchi, pulmonary artery, and vein before pulmonary surgery [1,2,3]
This study aims to explore the genesis of Mediastinal lingular artery (MLA) and provide a perspective to understand pulmonary anatomical variations in left upper lobe influenced by MLA
Patterns and distribution of bronchi and pulmonary vessels in left upper lobe (LUL) Branching patterns of the pulmonary artery Quantitatively, interlobar type (IL-type) were found in 297 cases (73.51%) and mediastinal type (M-type) were found in 107 cases (26.49%), among which 84 cases (20.79%) belong to pMtype and 23 cases (5.69%) belong to Wholly mediastinal type of lingular artery (wM-type)
Summary
The development of three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3-DCTBA) imaging brings convenience for thoracic surgeons to know the precise anatomical relationship among bronchi, pulmonary artery, and vein before pulmonary surgery [1,2,3]. In previous studies on pulmonary morphology, the objects are mainly human embryo specimens [8,9,10], which brought direct evidence for the origins of some congenital anomalies and variations. Given the discrepancies of pulmonary morphology between embryo and adult, these researches still can’t clarify the common variations that thoracic surgeons often meet during pulmonary surgery. Accumulating mass of the 3-DCTBA data from adults make it possible to study these anatomical variations. Three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3-DCTBA) is a convenient way to analyze pulmonary variations before segmentectomy. Mediastinal lingular artery (MLA) is one of the representative variations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
