Volumetric study of tracheal diverticulum: a retrospective analysis in computed tomography

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 6, 840 - 844, 24.09.2021

Enes Gürün , İsmail Akdulum , Mustafa Kaya

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.973312

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the prevalence and morphology (location, diameter, number and volume) of the tracheal diverticulum (TD) on thoracic computed tomography (CT), in a sample of the Turkish population.
Material and Method: The study was conducted over 15 months, from February 2020 to April 2021, and included 3,860 thoracic CT scans, of which 1,891 subjects were men and the rest were women. All of the thoracic CT scans were evaluated retrospectively. All images were reviewed for the presence or absence of the TD in the axial plane, defined as air sacs around the trachea and communication with the trachea. For volume measurement, the TD contour was manually evaluated by a single radiologist, for all patients. Descriptive statistics were reported as mean±standard deviation (SD). A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 57.87±14.76 (29-84). In this study, the incidence of TD was calculated to be 0.80%. The mean tracheal diverticulum volume (TDV) and maximum transverse diameter (MTD) of TD were 983.62±1 509.80 mm3 and 8.79±6.19 mm, respectively.
Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated the volumetric measurement of TD and its prevalence. We believe that the frequency of its use in clinical practice should increase, as volumetric measurements provide healthier results than diameter measurements.

Keywords

volumetry, tracheal diverticula, prevalence, computed tomography

References

• Huang D, Ma Q, Wang S, Ouyang Q, Chen X. Transcervical resection of tracheal diverticulum. Head Neck 2017; 39: 187-90.
• O'Leary CN, JW Ryan, Corbett G, Ridge CA. Barotrauma induced tracheal diverticulum rupture: imaging findings. BMJ Case Rep 2016; 2016: bcr2016217518.
• Akabane S, Kawachi J, Fukai R, et al. A rare case of an infected tracheal diverticulum requiring emergency intervention: A case report. Int J Surg Case Rep 2016; 24: 7-9.
• Soto-Hurtado EJ, Penuela-Ruiz L, Rivera-Sanchez I, Torres-Jimenez J. Tracheal diverticulum: a review of the literature. Lung 2006; 184: 303-7.
• Pace M, Dapoto A, Surace A, et al. Tracheal diverticula: A retrospective analysis of patients referred for thoracic CT. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97: e12544.
• Srivastava A, Guitron J, Williams VA. Tracheal diverticulum: an atypical presentation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2014; 148: 3244-5.
• Goo JM, Im JG, Ahn JM, et al. Right paratracheal air cysts in the thoracic inlet: clinical and radiologic significance. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1999; 173: 65-70.
• Kim JS, Kim A-y, Yoon Y. Paratracheal air cysts using low-dose screening chest computed tomography: clinical significance and imaging findings. Jpn J Radiol 2011; 29: 644.
• Lee MK, Kim EY, Jeong YM, Kim JH, Choi HY. Paratracheal air cysts are uncommon findings in the pediatric population. Jpn J Radiol 2016; 34: 579-84.
• Shah M, Joshi JM. Tracheal diverticulum. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2012; 54: 39-40.
• Boyaci N, Sen Dokumaci D, Karakas E, Yalcin F, Oney Kurnaz AG. Paratracheal air cysts: prevalence and relevance to pulmonary emphysema and bronchiectasis using thoracic multidetector CT. Diagn Interv Radiol 2015; 21: 42-6.
• Polat AV, Elmali M, Aydin R, Ozbay A, Celenk C, Murat N. Paratracheal air cysts: prevalence and correlation with lung diseases using multi-detector CT. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2014; 58: 144-8.
• Cheng H-M, Chang P-Y, Chiang K-H, Huang H-W, Lee C-C. Prevalence and characteristics of paratracheal air cysts and their association with emphysema in a general population. Eur J Radiol 2012; 81: 2673-7.
• Kurt A, Sayit AT, Ipek A, Tatar IG. A multi detector computed tomography survey of tracheal diverticulum. Eurasian J Med 2013; 45: 145-8.
• Bae HJ, Kang EY, Yong HS, et al. Paratracheal air cysts on thoracic multidetector CT: incidence, morphological characteristics and relevance to pulmonary emphysema. Br J Radiol 2013; 86: 20120218.
• Zhang Y, Tan Y, Chen J, Fang C. The Role of MRI in diagnosing and managing tracheal diverticulum. Acad Radiol 2021; S1076-6332(21)00323-8.