SPIRAL COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY WITH 3-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF TRACHEOBRONCHIAL STENOSIS

We report on the usefulness of spiral computed tomography (CT) with 3- dimensional (3D) reconstruction in the diagnosis of tracheobronchial a bnormalities based on three cases of children with congenital tracheob ronchial strictures. Images were reconstructed using a curved planar r eformat and shaded surface display. The images obtained from our three cases of tracheal stenosis, subglottic stenosis and tracheobronchial strictures were extremely clear. Spiral CT with 3D reconstruction prov ides excellent anatomic delineation of the tracheobronchial airway, an d is safe and less invasive than tracheo bronchography.