Cauldwell classification

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 12 Mar 2024

Cauldwell classification is a commonly used classification 4 in assessing bronchial artery branching patterns.

The bronchial artery branching pattern is classified into four types based on the number of intercostobronchial trunks (ICBT) - that give rise to the right bronchial artery and posterior intercostal artery - and bronchial arteries 2:

  • type l : one right ICBT, two left bronchial arteries

  • type ll : one right ICBT, one left bronchial artery

  • type lll : two right (ICBT and right bronchial artery), two left bronchial arteries

  • type lV : two right (ICBT and right bronchial artery), one left bronchial artery

Bronchial artery anatomy was studied by an American pathologist Earl W Cauldwell (1916-1959) 3 on human cadavers and published in 1948 1.

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