Volumetric thin-section CT: evaluation of pulmonary interlobar fissures

PURPOSE

We aimed to perform an imaging analysis of interlobar fissures and their variations using thin-section computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

Volumetric thin-section CT scanning was performed in 208 subjects. Interlobar fissures were observed on axial images, and reconstructed coronal and sagittal images were observed by multi-planar reformatting (MPR). The vessel distributions were verified by maximal intensity projection (MIP). On the axial images, the interlobar fissures were characterized by lines of hyperattenuation, bands of hyperattenuation, avascular zones, and mixed imaging. The interlobar fissures were divided into seven grades according to the percentage of defects over the entire fissure.

RESULTS

On the axial images, of all interlobar fissures without avascular zones, 70.2% of the right oblique fissures (ROFs) and 94.2% of the left oblique fissures (LOFs) appeared as lines, and 83.2% of the horizontal fissures (HFs) appeared as bands. All of the interlobar fissures appeared as lines on the coronal and sagittal images. Of all cases, 17.8% showed fully complete interlobar fissures for all three fissures. Incomplete fissures included 41.3% of ROFs, 58.2% of HFs, and 45.2% of LOFs. In ROFs and LOFs, discontinuity was most frequently below 20%, while in HFs discontinuity was most frequently 41%–60%. The most common classification of incomplete interlobar fissures was a discontinuous avascular zone.

CONCLUSION

Incomplete interlobar fissures are common variations of interlobar fissures. Techniques including volumetric thin-section CT, MPR, and MIP can assist in the diagnosis of incomplete interlobar fissures.The pulmonary interlobar fissures are important landmarks for pulmonary anatomy. They adopt a double membrane structure formed by invagination of the visceral pleura. The interlobar fissures are 1–3 mm thick and consist of the right oblique fissure (ROF), horizontal fissure (HF), and left oblique fissure (LOF) (1, 2). The recognition of pulmonary interlobar fissures and their variations is beneficial for identifying pulmonary lesion locations, evaluating disease progression, selecting surgical operations, and applying endoscopic therapy (3–5). With the constant development of imaging techniques, thin-section computed tomography (CT) can provide more detailed information regarding lung structure with respect to the anatomy (5–7). Multiplanar reformatting (MPR) (8) and maximal intensity projection (MIP) are reconstruction techniques based on a noninvasive methodology that detect pulmonary interlobar fissure variations. The results generated by these techniques highly resemble the results of an autopsy (8). In this study, the pulmonary interlobar fissures and their variations were investigated and analyzed by volumetric thin-section MPR and MIP images.