RADIOLOGY 152/1 (1984) 57-64

Complete cartilage-ring tracheal stenosis associated with anomalous left pulmonary artery: The ring-sling complex

Berdon W.E., Baker D.H., Wung J.T., et al.

Department of Radiology, Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA

Abstract
The persistent high mortality in infants with pulmonary artery 'sling' (retrotracheal anomalous left pulmonary artery) is primarily due to the coexistence in such patients of long-segment tracheal stenosis due to complete cartilage ring. Five such patients are reported. Airway studies (by filtered high-kV radiography, bronchography, and/or CT) showed low carina, horizontal equal-length right and left mainstem bronchi, and long-segment tracheal stenosis. The length of the stenosis far exceeded the contact with the pulmonary sling. The suggested term 'ring-sling complex' for such patients correctly places emphasis on detection of the tracheal malformation, which currently has no satisfactory surgical treatment.

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