SONOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF THE TRACHEA

We evaluated the feasibility of ultrasonography for imaging of the tra chea and its effectiveness in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with tracheal stenosis due to various diseases. Twenty normal voluntee rs and six adult patients with tracheal stenosis were included in the study group. Subjects were examined with ultrasonography in a supine p osition with the neck hyperextended or in a sitting position. At the l evel of the thyroid isthmus, the anterior tracheal wall thicknesses im aged by ultrasonography were 1.54 +/- 0.22 mm (mean +/- SD) and 1.22 /- 0.18 mm for normal male and female volunteers, respectively. Ultras onography could reveal the intrinsic tracheal wall lesions and extrins ic lesions compressing the trachea in patients with tracheal stenosis. These ultrasonographic images correlated with CT images. In conclusio n, ultrasonography may be useful in imaging of the trachea.