Normal bronchi on high resolution CT

Abstract

The delineation of normal bronchi was evaluated by high resolution CT. Under the usual conditions for lung survey, with window width of 1500, window level -650, and slice thickness 10 mm, using high spatial frequency algorithm, the subsegmental bronchi were delineated in 77% of total branches. Sub-subsegmental bronchi were delineated in 8% of branches. Under thin slice high resolution CT, with slice thickness of 1.5 mm and slice interval 10 mm, subsegmental bronchi were delineated in 89% of branches, and sub-subsegmental bronchi were delineated in 35% of branches. In two of the cases in which almost the whole lungs were studied on continuous slice images with thin slice high resolution CT, sub-sub-subsegmental bronchi could be easily delineated, except in for the lingular segment. High resolution CT is very useful for the interpretation of normal pulmonary structures and for diagnosis of bronchial lesions.