Imaging of Tumors of the Trachea and Central Bronchi - 08/08/11

Doi : 10.1016/j.rcl.2008.11.010

G.R. Ferretti, MD, PhD ^a,^b,^c,^⁎ , C. Bithigoffer, MD ^b, C.A. Righini, MD, PhD ^b,^c,^d, F. Arbib, MD ^e, S. Lantuejoul, MD, PhD ^b,^c,^f, A. Jankowski, MD ^b
^a Clinique Universitaire de Radiologie et Imagerie Médicale, CHU Grenoble, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France
^b Université J Fourier, Clinique Universitaire de Radiologie et Imagerie Médicale, CHU Grenoble, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France
^c INSERM U 823, Institut A Bonniot, la Tronche, France
^d Clinique ORL, CHU Grenoble, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France
^e Clinique de Pneumologie, CHU Grenoble, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France
^f Pôle de biologie-Département d’Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, CHU Grenoble, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France

Corresponding author. Clinique universitaire de radiologie et imagerie médicale, CHU Grenoble, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France.

Abstract

Tumors of the trachea and central bronchi can be benign or malignant. Clinical presentation may be confusing, particularly in benign tumors that can be misdiagnosed as asthma or chronic bronchitis. Chest radiography has many limitations and is often considered unremarkable in patients with tumors of the central airways; therefore, multidetector CT (MDCT) has become the most useful noninvasive method for diagnosing and assessing the central airways. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of imaging of the tumors of the trachea and central bronchi. We emphasize the crucial role of MDCT and postprocessing techniques in assessing neoplasms of the central airways.

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Keywords : CT, Chest radiography, Trachea, Main bronchi, Malignant tumor, Benign tumor