Posterior tracheal stripe
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Bell D, Kang O, et al. Posterior tracheal stripe. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-23538
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rID:
23538
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures
Revisions:
6 times, by
5 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
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Synonyms:
- Tracheooesophageal stripe
- Tracheoesophageal stripe
- Retro-tracheal stripe
- Tracheo-oesophageal stripe
- Posterior tracheal line
- Retrotracheal stripe
- Tracheo-esophageal stripe
The posterior tracheal stripe (or line) is formed by air in the trachea and air in the right lung outlining the intervening posterior wall of the trachea and soft tissue. It is seen on lateral chest x-rays and normally measures less than 2.5 mm in width 1,2. Abnormal thickening has a variety of causes 1,2:
- congenital or acquired aortic arch abnormalities (most common)
- esophageal pathology: e.g. malignancy, dilatation, diverticula, duplication cysts, etc.
- mediastinitis
- mediastinal hematomas
The posterior tracheal stripe can also normally appear thickened, measuring up to 5.5 mm, and is then called the tracheo-oesophgeal stripe and is formed by the interface of the posterior wall of the trachea with the anterior wall of the esophagus (instead of the right lung) 2.
The posterior tracheal stripe/tracheo-esophageal stripe forms the anterior border of the retrotracheal space.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
- appears as a vertical stripe posterior to the tracheal air column extending from the thoracic inlet to the tracheal bifurcation on lateral chest x-rays 1-3
References
- 1- Gibbs JM, Chandrasekhar CA, Ferguson EC et-al. Lines and stripes: where did they go?-From conventional radiography to CT. Radiographics. 2007;27 (1): 33-48. Radiographics (full text) - doi:10.1148/rg.271065073 - Pubmed citation
- 2- Franquet T, Erasmus JJ, GiméNez A et-al. The retrotracheal space: normal anatomic and pathologic appearances. Radiographics. 2003;22 Spec No: S231-46. Pubmed citation
- 3- Wright FW. Radiology of the Chest and Related Conditions. Available from: http://radiographia.ru/sites/default/adminfiles/RadiologyoftheChest.pdf
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