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Short linear shadows connecting pulmonary segmental arteries to oblique fissures in volumetric thin-section CT images: comparing CT, micro-CT and histopathology

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Abstract

Objectives

To retrospectively evaluate short linear shadows connecting pulmonary segmental arteries to oblique fissures in thin-section CT images and determine their anatomical basis.

Methods

CT scanning was performed on 108 patients and 11 lung specimens with no lung diseases around the oblique fissures or hila. Two radiologists evaluated the imaging. The parameters included length, thickness of short linear shadows, pulmonary segmental artery variations, and traction interlobar fissures, etc.

Results

The short linear shadows were not related to sex, age, or smoking history. The lengths of the short linear shadows were generally within 10 mm. The thicknesses of the short linear shadows ranged from 1 to 2 mm. Of the patients, 26.9 % showed pulmonary segmental artery variations; 66.7 % of short linear shadows pulled oblique fissures. In three-dimensional images, the short linear shadows appeared as arc planes, with one side edge connected to the oblique fissure, one side edge connected to a pulmonary segmental artery. On the tissue slices, the short linear shadow exhibited a band structure composed of connective tissues, small blood vessels, and small lymphatic vessels.

Conclusions

Short linear shadows are a type of normal intrapulmonary membranes and can maintain the integrity of the oblique fissures and hilar structure.

Key Points

• Volumetric thin-section CT scanning is commonly used to study lung anatomy.

• Short linear shadows are a common intrapulmonary structure in thin-section CT.

• Short linear shadows correlate with band structures on the correlative tissue slices.

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Abbreviations

CT:

Computed tomography

HU:

Hounsfield unit

MPR:

Multiplanar reformat

3D:

Three-dimensional

MIP:

Maximum intensity projection

VR:

Volume rendering

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Hui Chen and Jian-feng Lei from the Capital Medical University for statistical analyse and micro-CT imaging, respectively. We thank American Journal Experts for providing language editing services. The scientific guarantor of this publication is Da-Qing Ma. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. Hui Chen kindly provided statistical advice for this manuscript. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent of patients was waived by the Institutional Review Board. Written informed consent of autopsies was obtained from all family members of patients in this study. Methodology: retrospective, case-control study / cross sectional study, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 95 Yong’an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, China

    Chun-Shuang Guan, Da-Qing Ma, Jiang-Hong Chen & Bu-Dong Chen

  2. Department of Radiology, Beijing Fengtai Hospital, 1 Xi’an Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, China

    Chun-Shuang Guan & Dun Cui

  3. Department of Pathology, National Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health, 27 Shilong North Road, Mentougou District, Beijing, China

    Yan-Song Zhang

  4. Department of Pathology, Beijing Friendship Hospital,Capital Medical University, 95 Yong’an Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, China

    Wei-Hua Liu

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  1. Chun-Shuang Guan
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  2. Da-Qing Ma
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  3. Dun Cui
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  4. Jiang-Hong Chen
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  5. Bu-Dong Chen
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  7. Wei-Hua Liu
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Correspondence to Da-Qing Ma.

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Guan, CS., Ma, DQ., Cui, D. et al. Short linear shadows connecting pulmonary segmental arteries to oblique fissures in volumetric thin-section CT images: comparing CT, micro-CT and histopathology. Eur Radiol 26, 2740–2748 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-4107-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-4107-3

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