Multi-detector computed tomography imaging of large airway pathology: A pictorial review

Figure 1 Normal arway. Axial image at the level of arch of aorta (A) shows a typical inverted U shaped trachea with thin fibromuscular membrane in posterior portion lying between open ends of tracheal cartilages. Axial image (B) at the level of carina (arrow) shows dichotomous branching of trachea at its distal end into right and left main bronchi. Coronal MPR image (C) shows trachea and mainstem bronchi as uniform tubular structures in midline within the mediastinum. Coronal reconstructed MinIP image (D) shows trachea and its bronchial branches as tubular air containing structures continuous from thoracic inlet till its divisions into the lung parenchyma. Volume rendered image (E) is the external rendered image showing 3-dimensional display of external surface of the airway and lung parenchyma. MPR: Multiplanar reformation; MinIP: Minimum intensity projection.