Diagnostic value of CT three-dimensional reconstruction in bronchial foreign body

Abstract

Objective To investigate the role of CT three-dimensional reconstruction (3D-CT) in the diagnosis of bronchial foreign body.Methods Thirty-seven suspected pediatric cases of bronchial foreign bodies underwent CT scanning and 3D-CT reconstruction,whose accuracy was defined by bronchoscopical or surgical findings.Results For all the 37 cases,chest X-ray showed 8 cases (group A) had bronchial foreign body,while 29 cases(group B) were negative.In group A,CT findings suggested lung infection in 5 cases,congenital pulmonary dysplasia-lung lobe absence in 2 cases and tracheo-esophageal fistula in 1 case.In group B (29 patients),25 cases with bronchial foreign bodies were suspected by CT scanning and further bronchoscopical examination confirmed the existence of 24 cases of vegetable foreign body,one case of the tracheal tumor.For the four cases with negative result of bronchial foreign bodies after CT scanning,lung infection and laryngitis were confirmed in two cases respectively.Among the 24 surgically-confirmed cases of vegetable foreign bodies,CT scanning showed tracheobronchial foreign body in fourteen positive results,irregular tracheal stenosis in six cases and obstructive atelectasis,emphysema,pneumonia in seven each.Tracheobronchial foreign body and irregular tracheal stenosis were direct signs,accounting for 74%(20/27).Obstructive atelectasis,emphysema and pneumonia were indirect signs,accounting for 26%(7/27).Conclusion 3D-CT plays an important role in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bronchial foreign body. Key words: Foreign body in trachea; Three diamensional CT; Diagnosis