Utility of virtual bronchoscopy in congenital tracheomalacia.

Utility of virtual bronchoscopy was evaluated in a case of congenital tracheomalacia by comparing virtual bronchoscopic images with those of fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Results indicate that virtual bronchoscopy is useful in diagnosing stationary lesions. However, its diagnostic value is inferior to that of fiberoptic bronchoscopy for mobile lesions, in that virtual bronchoscopy does not permit dynamic images. We recommend that the institutions, where fiberoptic bronchoscopy is available, should perform virtual bronchoscopy in parallel to explore its utility.