Authors: Sanders, V. M.¹; Pitcher, R. D.²; Douglas, T. S.¹; Kibel, M. A.³; Daya, R. B.³; van As, A. B⁴

Source: Annals of Tropical Paediatrics: International Child Health, Volume 29, Number 3, September 2009 , pp. 209-216(8)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

Abstract:

Background: Conventional chest radiographs do not afford consistently good visualisation of the main bronchi and sub-carinal angle. Improved visualisation would facilitate accurate measurement of the airways, definition of normal radiographic anatomy and, possibly, earlier identification of extrinsic compression or displacement.

Aim: The main objective of this study was to establish whether the paediatric main bronchi and sub-carinal angle could be measured consistently on AP supine chest images obtained using a specific digital radiographic system (DRS).

Subjects and Methods: The proximal bronchial diameters were measured on supine DRS chest images of 102 children between the ages of 6 months and 13 years.

Results: The left and right main bronchi could be seen clearly and measured in over 90% of cases, with intraclass correlation co-efficients of reliability indicating high intra- and inter-observer agreement. The sub-carinal angle had lower intra- and inter-observer agreement.

Conclusion: Supine chest images acquired using DRS facilitate accurate measurement of the main bronchi and sub-carinal angle in children. Further work is required to establish population-specific age-related norms for bronchial dimensions. These could serve as reference standards for early detection of deviations from normal.

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/027249309X12467994693932

Affiliations: 1: Medical Imaging Research Unit, Department of Human Biology, School of Child & Adolescent Health, Red Cross Children's War Memorial Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa 2: Department of Paediatric Radiology, School of Child & Adolescent Health, Red Cross Children's War Memorial Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa 3: Child Health Unit, School of Child & Adolescent Health, Red Cross Children's War Memorial Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa 4: Department of Paediatric Surgery, School of Child & Adolescent Health, Red Cross Children's War Memorial Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Publication date: 2009-09-01

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• In 2012 Annals of Tropical Paediatrics changed its name to Paediatrics and International Child Health to reflect changes and developments in the subject area. View the issues of Paediatrics and International Child Health available online.
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