Focal pulmonary interstitial opacities adjacent to the thoracic spine osteophytes among the cases with right-sided aortic arch

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors to development of focal pulmonary interstitial opacities adjacent to thoracic spine osteophytes among cases with right-sided aortic arch. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of our hospital information system on patients with right-sided aortic arch who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) from April 2003 to September 2014. CT were reviewed to evaluate the position and thickness of osteophytes and that of focal pulmonary opacities adjacent to osteophytes, comparing data between the patients with osteophytes with pulmonary opacity (group A) and patients with osteophytes without pulmonary opacity (group B). RESULTS: There were 25 patients totally, 23 cases of left-sided thoracic osteophytes, two cases on both sides. Comparing Group A (n = 10) and Group B (n = 15), the presence of pulmonary opacities was significantly associated with thickness of osteophytes (Mann–Whitney U test, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with right-sided aortic arch, thoracic osteophytes were often observed on the left side. The presence of pulmonary opacities adjacent to thoracic osteophytes was associated with thickness of osteophytes. Furthermore, these interstitial opacities should not be considered a preclinical form of fibrosing lung disease.