bronchiectasis image finding includes permanent airway dilation and lack of tapering

• related: chronic bronchiectasis
• tags: #permanent #pulmonology

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Diagnosis of bronchiectasis includes at least one of following on CT scan:

• airway equal or larger than artery (signet ring sign is seen in bronchiectasis), ratio of greater than 1.5 ¹
• lack of airway tapering (tram tracking is lack of bronchial tapering on CT scan?)
• visible airway in peripheral of chest
• varicose bronchiectasis (varicose bronchiectasis has beaded appearance on CT)
• cystic bronchiectasis (cystic bronchiectasis can look like cysts)

Other CT findings:

• mucous plugging
• tree in bud ²

Location

Bronchiectasis findings differ in CF vs non CF patients. CF patients have upper lobe predominant findings, whereas non-CF patients typically have lower lobe predominant findings.³

Links to this note

• chronic bronchiectasis
  • bronchiectasis image finding includes permanent airway dilation and lack of tapering

Footnotes

1. Investigation and Management of Bronchiectasis in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease ↩

2. Bronchiectasis A Clinical Review ↩

3. Bronchiectasis Lecture by Jennifer Krall? ↩