Naidich et al listed criteria for the diagnosis of bronchiectasis on computed tomography (CT) images.
Key criteria:
(1) no or minimal tapering of bronchi
(2) dilatation of bronchi with internal diameter greater than that of the adjacent pulmonary artery
(3) ability to visualize peripheral bronchi less than 1 cm from the costal pleural surface or adjacent mediastinal pleural surface (dilated bronchi in the periphery of the lung)
Additional findings:
(1) air-fluid levels in distended bronchi
(2) linear array or cluster of cystically dilated bronchi
(3) bronchial wall thickening due to peribronchial fibrosis
Bronchography may be more sensitive in borderline cases.
The differential diagnosis includes emphysematous blebs, which (1) have no definable wall thickness and (2) have no accompanying vessels.
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