Non-invasive diagnosis of tracheobronchomalacia using a modified ventilation radioisotope lung scan

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Figure 1 .

Chest radiograph showing dextrocardia, scoliosis, and absence of 2nd–7th ribs on the left.

Figure 2 .

Upper panel: tracheobronchogram (anterior view) with positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 10 and 15 cm H₂O. The right main bronchus (dashed circle) only opens at 15 cm H₂O. Lower panel: isotope ventilation lung scans (posterior view) showing no isotope present on the ventilation scans in the area of the right upper lobe when 10 cm H₂O PEEP was applied. Only when a PEEP of 15 cm H₂O was applied did the right upper lobe region become poorly ventilated. Isotope intensity was only equal to the left upper lobe area when a PEEP of 20 cm H₂O was applied.