Preoperative evaluation of the trachea in a child with pulmonary artery sling using 3-dimensional computed tomographic imaging and virtual bronchoscopy

Pulmonary artery sling is frequently accompanied by tracheal anomalies other than local compression, including focal/segmental or extensive stenosis (ring-sling complex). Recent advances in computed tomography technology, such as multidetector computed tomography with 3-dimensional imaging (3-D) and virtual bronchoscopy (VB), offer important and accurate information of the entire tracheobronchial tree. We report on the value of 3-D imaging and VB in the preoperative assessment of a 4-year-old child with pulmonary artery sling and long segment tracheal stenosis owing to complete cartilaginous rings; we suggest that 3-D imaging and VB are important contributions in this assessment.