Pulmonary vessels and bronchial anatomy of the left lower lobe.

PURPOSE: To identify and clarify the comprehensive anatomic patterns in the left lower lobe (LLL).

METHODS

Using computed tomography (CT) imaging data, including that obtained using three-dimensional CT, we reviewed the anatomic patterns of the pulmonary vessels and bronchi in the left lungs of 539 patients, focusing on the LLL.

RESULTS

The two-stem type in A6 was observed in 131 (24.7%) patients and the three-stem type in A6 was observed in 11 (2.1%) patients. The independent two-stem type in B6 was observed in four (0.75%) patients. The B7 with independent branching from the basal bronchi was observed in 42 (7.9%) patients. B* was observed in 129 (24.0%) patients and B* was accompanied by A* in all patients. An extrapericardial common trunk of the left pulmonary veins was identified in five patients (0.93%).

CONCLUSION

We identified various bronchovascular patterns in the LLL of a large number of patients. Our results provide useful information for anatomic pulmonary resection, especially segmentectomy.