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Fig. 3 | Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Fig. 3

From: Regenerative medicine approaches for the management of respiratory tract fistulas

Fig. 3

Bronchoscopic and CT images from the region of the fistula. a Bronchoscopic image recorded before cell therapy. The fistula can be seen on the anterior tracheal wall which had been totally destroyed after the laser treatment of the tumor. The entrance was about 10 mm in diameter and the bronchoscope could pass through it. Inset: Anthracotic mediastinal lymph nodes as seen through the wall of the fistula. b CT image recorded before cell therapy. The fistula was situated between the trachea and a pretracheal mediastinal cavity with an area of 2 cm2, next to the superior vena cava and pulmonary artery, near the ascending aorta. c Bronchoscopic image recorded 1 year after cell therapy. The entrance to the fistula was much smaller (diameter 3–4 mm). Inset: The walls of the fistula were covered with “new” epithelium and vessels as a result of neovascularisation and epithelialisation. d CT image from the same region of the fistula 1 year after cell therapy. One year after treatment the cavity had disappeared. e CT image from the region of the fistula recorded 1 year after cell therapy. This image is the only one to show remnants of the previous fistulous tract. It is clear that the fistula had closed. *, small depression; VC, superior vena cava; AOa, ascending aorta; AOd, descending aorta; PA, right pulmonary artery; LPA, left pulmonary artery. Reproduced with permission from Díaz-Agero Álvarez et al. [38]

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