Tracheobronchial variations in Pneumoconiosis cases: multidetector computed tomography diagnosis

Abstract

Background
Tracheobronchial variations (TBVs) are more common than previously believed due to the increasing use of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT).
This study aimed to assess TBVs in cases of pneumoconiosis, one of the oldest occupational diseases that still poses a threat to public health.
Methods
This was a descriptive study that involved reviewing chest MDCT images of 34 cases of pneumoconiosis and 34 control cases retrospectively from January 2020 to April 2022. Variations in the trachea, right main bronchus, left main bronchus, lobar and segmental branches of the cases in the patient and control groups were evaluated according to Boyden’s nomenclature.
Results
The frequency of TBV was 32.4% in pneumoconiosis cases. Although the frequency of TBV was higher in the patient group than in the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.086). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in terms of TBV classification between the patient and control groups (p=0.407). Additionally, the presence of TBV did not affect the distribution of International Labour Organization categories in pneumoconiosis cases (p=0.360).
Conclusions
Although our study provides initial insights into the occurrence of TBVs in pneumoconiosis cases, further research is needed to clarify the relationship between these variations and the disease.