EVALUATION OF TRACHEOBRONCHIAL DISEASE WITH HELICAL CT WITH MULTIPLANAR AND 3-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION CORRELATION WITH BRONCHOSCOPY

The advantage of volumetric computed tomography in the thorax is the p ossibility of acquiring both multiplanar and three-dimensional (3D) im ages, thus enabling precise diagnosis and evaluation of extent of dise ase involving the airways. Multiplanar and 3D images appear to be usef ul for global understanding of the status of the tracheobronchial tree , particularly for evaluation of focal stenosis of the airways. Such i mages seem to be especially useful in evaluating the longitudinal exte nt of airway lesions, thus providing valuable information for preparin g a road map for bronchoscopy, for surgical planning, and for follow-u p of treatment response, However, multiplanar and 3D images do not app ear to be useful in lesion detection or evaluation of transaxial exten sion, Multiplanar and 3D images also seem to be helpful in demonstrati ng whether a lesion is endobronchial, submucosal, or peribronchial. Th e quality of such images appears to be excellent or good in almost all patients.