The tracheal air column describes the appearance of the trachea on plain chest radiographs.
Radiographic appearance
Plain radiograph
On frontal chest radiographs, the air column extends as an almost vertical, radiolucent column midline in the mediastinum from the inferior margin of the cricoid cartilage (C6) to the bifurcation at the carina (T4). A gradual deviation towards the right of the trachea is the norm.
Practical points
Non-radiologists often erroneously describe the normal trachea as being vertical with no deviation, however a slight gradual deviation to the right is normal. Deviation, displacement or caliber change may all indicate pathology.
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