18 Saber Sheath Trachea

Clinical Presentation

62-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Radiologic Findings

Coned-down PA chest radiograph (Fig. 18.1A) demonstrates narrowing of the tracheal coronal diameter. Contrast-enhanced chest CT (mediastinal window) demonstrates normal tracheal morphology at the level of the thoracic inlet (Fig. 18.1B) and deformity of the tracheal lumen below that level (Fig. 18.1C). The tracheal wall is of normal thickness. The cross-sectional morphology of the tracheal lumen resembles that of a saber sheath.