Abstract Fiber-optic bronchoscopy (FOB) remains a cornerstone procedure in pulmonary medicine, serving both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Despite their clinical relevance, anatomical variations in bronchopulmonary segments are frequently overlooked. These variations, however, can significantly influence procedures such as bronchoscopy, brachytherapy, pulmonary resections, and endotracheal intubations. This study was conducted to evaluate the proportion of bronchial anatomical variations among patients undergoing FOB. A total of 173 patients who underwent bronchoscopy were examined, comprising 135 males and 38 females. The proportion of bronchial variations was 15.6%. The majority of these variations (66.6%) were observed on the right side of the bronchial tree. The most prevalent variation involved the presence of an additional segmental bronchus in the right upper lobe, accounting for 29% of all variations detected. An improved understanding and recognition of these anatomical deviations are crucial for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and optimizing therapeutic strategies during bronchoscopic and surgical interventions.
Johnson et al. (Thu,) studied this question.