Incidence and clinical significance of the esophageal branches originating from the bronchial artery

The authors investigated the incidence and extent of angiographic visualization of the esophageal branches originating from the bronchial arteries. Approximately 20% of 371 patients showed considerable blood flow to the esophagus. The left bronchial artery more often gives rise to the esophageal branches. Esophageal complications have been experienced in 8 cases following bronchial artery infusion of Mitomycin C for pulmonary carcinoma. Complications tend to occur in cases showing marked opacification of the esophageal veins or in those which a lesion locates in the peripheral portion of the lung. It is imperative to pay attention to esophageal branches of the bronchial artery in interventional angiography.