The interrupted bronchus: a fluoroscopic sign of bronchial foreign body in infants and children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to describe the characteristic features of the interrupted bronchus sign and to determine the value of this sign in detection of bronchial foreign bodies. The interrupted bronchus sign refers to disruption of the air column in the main bronchi seen by fluoroscopy. CONCLUSION: The interrupted bronchus sign has a sensitivity of 100% for detection of foreign bodies in the main bronchi. This sign is particularly helpful when chest radiography shows atelectasis or pneumonia. The specificity of this sign for foreign bodies is only 71% because other endobronchial lesions can disrupt the air column. Nevertheless, the interrupted bronchus sign indicates the presence of bronchial occlusion and signifies the need for bronchoscopy. This sign is not sensitive for detection of foreign bodies in lobar or segmental bronchi.