J Korean Radiol Soc.
1994 Jun;30(6):1051-1056.
MR Imaging of the Trachea:In Vivo and In Vitro Study
Abstract
- PURPOSE
To establish signal intensity characteristics of the trachea according to the histologic layers, we
performed in vivo and in vitro MR studies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed MR imaging of the trachea at 1.5T unit in 11 patients mediastinal
masses, vascular anomalies, tracheal stenosis or iatrogenic tracheoesophageal fistula, aryepiglottic fold
thickening or mass, tracheal carcinoid, one healthy volunteer and one cadaveric trachea. By using anterior, volume
neck or 3 inch dual coil with various pulse sequences, axial and coronal images of the trachea were obtained.
The tracheal layers with different signal intensity on MR images were correlated with the histology.
RESULTS
In vivo and in vitro MR studies revealed two layers of the trachea ;the inner layer had intermediate
to high signal and the outer had low signal. The tracheal cartilage showed low signal intensity in all pulse
sequences. The submucosa appeared as intermediate signal intensity on T1 weighted images but high signal
intersity on other images due to its abundant mucous and mucoserous glands. However, the mucosa and
perichondrium could not be defined on MR images.
CONCLUSION
Characterization of the signal intensity according to the histologic layers of the trachea might
be helpful for the evaluation of intrinsic lesions of the irachea or the possibility of tracheal invasion from the
adjacent tumors.