Abstract
Objective
This study aims to elucidate the distribution and characteristics of bronchial wall area proportion (WA%), defined as [average wall area / (average wall area + average lumen area)], in the lungs of healthy Chinese children and adolescents aged 0-18 years.Methods
In this cross-sectional retrospective study, chest CT scans from 795 healthy children and adolescents (482 males [61%], 313 females [39%]) aged 0-18 years were analyzed. Participants were stratified into 19 age-specific groups based on sex. Bronchial structures were automatically identified and quantified using a digital pulmonary tracheal branch measurement tool, enabling comprehensive assessment of WA% across all lung segments in the study population.Results
WA% showed a negative correlation with age in bronchial generations beyond the second airway branch across the pediatric population. This trend was more pronounced in males than females. No significant sex differences in WA% were observed across most age groups (0-15 years, P > 0.05). However, significant differences emerged from age 16 onward in the trachea (generation 0), lung lobes, and upper bronchi (generations 1-2/3), with males consistently exhibiting lower WA% values compared to females (P Conclusion
In children and adolescents aged 0-18 years, bronchial WA% decreases with age. From age 16 onward, sex differences become evident, with males showing lower WA% in the trachea, lung lobes, and upper bronchi compared to females. These findings provide baseline reference data for bronchial wall characteristics in healthy pediatric populations.