Morphometric study of lung and its fissures and the pattern of variation with its clinical implications

The lungs which are essential organs of respiration, due to their embryological basis can show a number of anatomical variations. The variations may be seen in the number of fissures, the dimension of fissures and hence the number of lobes. These variations gain importance in cardiothoracic surgeries where segmental resection of lungs is required.
Our study was to aimed to assess the various fissures and lobes in lungs and see the common variations in the fissures and lobes and to grade them. The study was done on 35 lungs (16 right and 19 left lungs).21% of left lung and 12.5% of right lungs showed incomplete oblique fissure. Out of the 16 right lungs 4 lungs (25%) showed incompletehorizontal fissure. Our data showed complete or Grade 1 horizontal fissures in 75 % of right lungs whereas Grade 1 oblique fissure was present in 87.5 % of right lungs and 78.9 % of the left lungs. Superior accessory Fissure was observed in 6.25% of right lung and in 5.2% left lung. Inferior accessory fissure was found in 10.5% left lung. Leftminor Fissure was observed in 5.2% of left lung. Azygous lobe was not documented in any lung.
The knowledge of such variations is helpful to the radiologist and the clinicians to make a correct diagnosis and plan the required surgical procedure.