Posterior wall of bronchus intermedius
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Bell D, d, et al. Posterior wall of bronchus intermedius. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 24 Mar 2025) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/23431
DOI:
-
rID:
23431
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
6 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Posterior wall of bronchus intermedius stripe
- Intermediate stem line
The posterior wall of bronchus intermedius, also known as the intermediate stem line, is a stripe formed by the interface of the posterior wall of bronchus intermedius and the air within the azygo-oesophageal recess 1.
It normally measures between 0.5-2 mm in thickness but is not considered abnormally thickened until it measures greater than 3 mm 1,2. An increased thickness is non-specific but may represent 1:
- pulmonary oedema (most common)
- primary lung malignancy
- lymphadenopathy (from a variety of causes)
- lymphoma
- metastases
- tuberculosis
- sarcoidosis
Radiolographic features
Plain radiograph
- present on 90-95% of lateral chest x-rays 1 but is only well seen in ~55% of patients 2
- appears as a vertical or nearly vertical stripe that projects over the lucency created by the left main bronchus and the azygo-oesophageal recess 1,2
CT
- posterior wall of bronchus intermedius is well seen in almost every patient 2
- it appears as a sharp, well-defined line from the origin of the right upper lobe bronchus 2
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. Webb WR, Hirji M, Gamsu G. Posterior wall of the bronchus intermedius: radiographic-CT correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1984;142 (5): 907-11. doi:10.2214/ajr.142.5.907 - Pubmed citation
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