Multislice CT Evaluation of Airway Stents

Abstract

Tracheobronchial stents are playing an increasing role in the palliative treatment of large airway obstruction due to a variety of conditions, including extrinsic compression, intraluminal disease, and malacia. Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in aiding planning of stent placement and in detecting various stent complications. In this pictorial essay, we illustrate and review the role of multislice CT in the pre- and post-stent placement settings. A special emphasis is placed upon the characteristic CT appearance of specific stent complications and upon the role of CT multiplanar reformations and 3-dimensional (3-d) reconstruction techniques.