Which imaging finding on CT supports a diagnosis of bronchiectasis?

• A. Normal bronchial anatomy
• B. Dilated bronchi with thickened walls
• C. Only alveolar consolidation without airway changes
• D. No wall thickening

Answer: (B)

Bronchiectasis on CT is defined by dilation of the airways with thickened walls, which reflects chronic inflammatory damage that weakens and scarifies the bronchial walls. On CT this appears as bronchi that are abnormally wide and retain relatively thick walls, often visible peripherally and sometimes showing signs like lack of tapering or a signet ring/tram-track appearance. This combination—dilated bronchi plus wall thickening—is the characteristic imaging feature that confirms bronchiectasis.

Normal bronchial anatomy would not indicate bronchiectasis, since there’s no dilation or wall change. Alveolar consolidation without airway changes points to a process in the lung tissue itself rather than chronic airway remodeling. No wall thickening would argue against the chronic inflammatory changes seen in bronchiectasis.