Inferior accessory fissure of the lung

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 27 Jun 2024

The inferior accessory fissure of the lung, also known as Twining's line, divides the medial basal bronchopulmonary segment from the rest of the lower lobe 4.

This accessory fissure is present in around 12% of people when examined with CT 3and is visible on 8% of PA chest x-rays 4. It is approximately five times more common on the right than the left.

It is commonly incomplete and may only extend for 0.5-2 cm 1,3.

The line on CXR was described by British radiologist Edward Wing Twining (1887-1939) who also described Twining's line of the posterior cranial fossa 5.

Cases and figures

  • Case 1: inferior accessory fissure
  • Case 2: inferior accessory fissure
  • Case 3: right inferior accessory fissure
  • Case 4: right inferior accessory fissure
  • Case 5: Twining's line
  • Case 6: right inferior accessory fissure
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