Abstract
Background
Tracheal agenesis is a rare and usually lethal anomaly. In the past, opaque contrast medium was injected via the esophagus to demonstrate the anatomy.
Objective
To demonstrate the utility of helical and multidetector CT in delineating the aberrant anatomy in newborns with tracheal agenesis.
Materials and methods
Four newborns with tracheal agenesis were identified from three institutions. Imaging studies and medical records were reviewed. Each child was imaged with chest radiography. One child was imaged on a single-detector helical CT scanner and the other three on multidetector scanners.
Results
Helical and multidetector CT with 2D and 3D reconstructions clearly delineated the aberrant tracheobronchial and esophageal anatomy in each infant. Minimum intensity projection reformatted CT images were particularly helpful. One infant each had type I and type II tracheal agenesis. Two infants had type III tracheal agenesis. All four infants died.
Conclusion
CT is a useful tool for delineating the aberrant anatomy of newborns with tracheal agenesis and thus helps in making rational clinical decisions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Floyd J, Campbell DC, Dominy DE (1962) Agenesis of the trachea. Am Rev Respir Dis 86:557–560
Faro RS, Goodwin CD, Organ CH, et al (1978) Tracheal agenesis. Ann Thorac Surg 28:295–299
van Veenendaal MB, Liem KD, Marres HAM (2000) Congenital absence of the trachea. Eur J Pediatr 159:8–13
Hiyama E, Yokoyama T, Ichikawa T, et al (1994) Surgical management of tracheal agenesis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 108:830–833
Sankaran K, Bhagirath CP, Bingham WT, et al (1983) Tracheal atresia, proximal esophageal atresia, and distal tracheoesophageal fistula: report of two cases and review of the literature. Pediatrics 71:821–823
Effman EL, Spackman TJ, Berdon WE, et al (1975) Tracheal agenesis. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med 125:767–781
Bremer JL (1957) Congenital anomalies of the viscera: their embryological basis. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, pp 27–31
Devenis AM, Otis RD (1957) Tracheal atresia associated with tracheoesophageal fistula. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 34:405–408
Kluth D, Steding G, Seidl W (1987) The embryology of foregut malformations. J Pediatr Surg 22:389–393
Merei JM, Hutson JM (2002) Embryogenesis of tracheoesophageal anomalies: a review. Pediatr Surg Int 18:319–326
Evans JA, Reggin J, Greenberg C (1985) Tracheal agenesis and associated malformations: a comparison with tracheoesophageal fistula and the VACTERL association. Am J Med Genet 21:21–34
Evans JA, Greenberg CR, Erdile L (1999) Tracheal agenesis revisited: analysis of associated anomalies. Am J Med Genet 82:415–422
Milstein JM, Lau M, Bickers RG (1985) Tracheal agenesis in infants with VATER association. Am J Dis Child 139:77–80
Altman RP, Randolph JG, Shearin RB (1972) Tracheal agenesis: recognition and management. J Pediatr Surg 7:112–118
Su PH, Chen JY (1996) Tracheal agenesis: report of one case. Zhonghua Min Guo Xiao Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi 37:218–221
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Strouse, P.J., Newman, B., Hernandez, R.J. et al. CT of tracheal agenesis. Pediatr Radiol 36, 920–926 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-006-0231-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-006-0231-1