Abstract
In normal bronchial branching, regular branching into similarly sized branches is the standard pattern. Smaller irregular branches fill the empty spaces between regular branches and are called daughter branches. Alveoli in the hilar region comprise the peripheral area containing daughter branches from a subsegmental or one more divisional peripheral bronchi. Sometimes abnormal shadows are observed in this area. Heretofore only a few reports have mentioned these shadows.
In order to evaluate the usefulness of the various radiologic methods of examining localized shadows in the pulmonary hilar region, two cases of primary lung cancer, one with metastatic lung cancer and the other with carcinoid, and one case of hamartoma were examined.
Bronchography was useful for the evaluation of the spatial relationship between the mass and bronchi. Bronchial arteriography was helpful in the evaluation of the benign tumor.
Inflated-fixed lungs prepared according to Heitzman's method in the two casesof lung cancer clearly showed the tumor together with the surrounding bronchi and vessels
