IngentaConnect Digital radiographic measurement of the main bronchi: a pilot stu...

Authors: Sanders, V.M.¹; Pitcher, R.D.²; Douglas, T.S.¹; Kibel, M.A.³; Daya, R.B.³; van As, A.B.⁴

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: 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

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Digital radiographic measurement of the main bronchi: a pilot study