Variations of Fissures and Lobes In Human Lungs-A Multicentric Cadaveric Study from West Bengal, India

Rationale: Being a vital organ of respiration, the human lungs are divided by fissures into lobes, which facilitate movements of lobes in relation to one another. This knowledge of fissures & lobes is of academic interest to all medi cal professionals. Not only that, considering the fact that malignant lung neoplasms are on the rise all over the world and also in India, this case series would also be particularly useful to cardiothoracic surgeons during surgical resection of individual lung segments. Objective: Keeping in mind the above clinical importance, a cadaveric study focussed on anatomical variations of fis sures & lobes was done in 82 human cadaveric lungs, over a period of one year. Result: Among the right lung specimens examined, one lung showed absence of oblique fissure & 22 right lungs had no horizontal fissure. None of the right lung specimens showed any accessory fissure. Among the left lung speci mens studied, incomplete oblique fissure was seen in 29 lungs & absence of oblique fissure in two lung specimens. Conclusion: Hence, awareness of anatomical variations of lungs with respect to its lobes & fissures is of great signifi cance.