CTICasesBronchial Diverticulum Mimicking Anastomotic Airway Injury
Imaging findings
Post-operative chest CT obtained days after a double lung transplant demonstrates extensive pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, and bilateral pleural air. A small, air-filled outpouching is seen along the wall of the main bronchus, which was initially concerning for an anastomotic airway leak; however, comparison with the pre-transplant CT confirms the pre-existing presence of a benign bronchial diverticulum.
Key takeaways
Bronchial and tracheal diverticula are common, benign outpouchings that can be easily confused with acute, traumatic, or iatrogenic airway injuries in the setting of severe pneumomediastinum. Correlation with pre-procedural imaging is key to preventing unnecessary intervention and recognizing these benign mimics.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum and Right Ventricular Dependent Coronary CirculationCongenital
- High-Flow Mediastinal Vascular Malformation (Azygos to Left Atrial Communication)Vascular
- Primary Tracheal Squamous Cell CarcinomaNeoplastic
- Unroofed Coronary Sinus with Anomalous Pulmonary Venous ReturnCongenital
- Circumflex Right Aortic ArchCongenital
- Focal Aortic Root Dissection in Systemic Lupus ErythematosusVascular
- Retained 7-0 Prolene Surgical Suture NeedleIatrogenic
- Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome (Tracheobronchomegaly)Congenital
See all cases from March 31, 2017 →