Esophageal Bronchus

  • Etiology: Bronchus arises directly from esophagus and this may be the main bronchus to lung or may be a lobar bronchus to lung
  • Imaging CXR:
    — Unilateral lung opacification with air bronchograms due to aspiration
    — Mediastinal shift to affected side
  • Imaging UpperGI: Contrast fills bronchus and airway branches
  • Imaging CT:
    — Arterial supply may arise from thoracic aorta
    — Venous drainage may be to systemic or pulmonary circulation
  • DDX:
  • Complications:
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical:

Radiology Cases of Esophageal Bronchus

CXR and Upper GI of esophageal bronchus
CXR AP (left) shows near complete opacification of the left hemithorax with mediastinal shift to the left. AP image from an esophagram (right) shows a fistulous connection from the esophagus to the left mainstem bronchus.