Apical accessory lobation of the right upper lobe: a new radiographic observation

Bahk, H Y; Kim, K S; Kim, D H

Abstract

Accesory lobes are the most common pulmonary anomaly and their accurate identification is imperativeparticularly when one contemplates a lung surgery. Reveiw of the radiological literature revealed 7 differenttypes of anomalous lobes. The present communication is concerned with an anomalous lobe involving the apicalportion of the right upper lobe which has not been reported previously in the radiologic literature. The 3 casesdescribed in this communication showed a hair-line shadow, 0,3-0.5 mm in thickness, in the posteror slope of theright lung apex. The lines arose from the pleural plane at the lower border of the posterior are of the second orthird rib, and terminated abruptly within the lung in 2 cases. That there was no "comma-head" shadow at the medialend of the line and the line and the azygos vein could be clearly identified at its normal position of the righttracheobraonchial angle ruled out the possibility of the azygos lobe. Presence of either vascular markings orrather heavy lung infiltrates within the separted lung permited us to exclude a bullar or similar lesions.