Roentgenologic Considerations in Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula Without Esophageal Atresia

The purpose of this communication is to present two cases of congenital tracheo-esophageal fistula without esophageal atresia which have not been previously reported, and to discuss some roentgenologic considerations of this rare and interesting anomaly. The fistulous tract in each case was visualized roentgenoscopically and recorded on roentgenograms. In each instance the tract was repaired. In most reported cases, the fistulous tract has arisen from the anterior wall of the esophagus and extended to the posterior wall of the trachea; in one case, the communication was with the left main-stem bronchus. The esophageal and tracheal openings of the fistulous tracts have varied from the size of a pinhead to several millimeters in diameter. The incidence of this lesion among all types of tracheo-esophageal anomalies is reported as 3 to 10 per cent, but judging from the few articles dealing with fistula without atresia, would seem much less. The diagnosis is made more often at postmortem examination than durin...