Value of low dose multilayer spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction in diagnosis of children tracheobronchial foreign body

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the value of low dose multilayer spiral CT (MSCT) three-dimensional reconstruction in diagnosis of children tracheobronchial foreign body. Methods Forty-three children with tracheobronchial foreign body which was confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy were enrolled, and all of the children underwent low dose MSCT three-dimensional reconstruction. The volume data were reconstructed on work station (Siemens) with the techniques of multiple plane reformation (MPR), curved planar reconstruction (CPR), minimum intensity projection (MinIP), volume rendering (VR), CT virtual bronchoscopy (CTVB), and the results of MSCT were compared with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Results The fiberoptic bronchoscopy results were used as the localization and qualitative diagnosis results. Locations of the foreign body were trachea and bifurcation of trachea (6 cases), right bronchus (23 cases) and left bronchus (14 cases), and the coincidence rate of localization diagnosis of MSCT was 100% (43/43). Natures of the foreign body were nuts in 21 cases, beans in 5 cases, corn in 2 cases, fruits and vegetables in 6 cases, and other kinds in 4 cases. Qualitative diagnosis by MSCT was medium density foreign body, and the coincidence rate was 100% (38/38). Five cases had bone mass, qualitative diagnosis by MSCT was high density bony foreign body, and the coincidence rate was 5/5. In 43 children, MPR (CPR) showed 41 cases (95.3%), CTVB showed 33 cases (76.7%), MinIP showed 34 cases (79.1%), VR showed 23 cases (53.5%), and axial scan showed 21 cases (48.8%). MPR (CPR) in showing foreign body rate was higher than other several post-processing methods, and there were statistical differences (P 0.05), but CTVB and MinIP were higher than VR and axial scan, and there were statistical differences (P <0.05). Conclusions Low dose MSCT three-dimensional reconstruction is satisfactory in the diagnosis of children tracheobronchial foreign body. It can accurately evaluate the exact size, location, shape and pulmonary complications of foreign body, thus it plays an important role in the diagnosis of suspicious tracheobronchial foreign body. Key words: Tomography, X-ray computed; Imaging, three-dimensional; Child; Tracheobronchial foreign body