PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sacco, O
AU  - Fregonese, B
AU  - Oddone, M
AU  - Verna, A
AU  - Tassara, E
AU  - Mereu, C
AU  - Rossi, GA
TI  - Severe endobronchial obstruction in a girl with relapsing polychondritis: treatment with Nd YAG laser and endobronchial silicon stent
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.97.10020494
DP  - 1997 Feb 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 494--496
VI  - 10
IP  - 2
4099  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/10/2/494.short
4100  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/10/2/494.full
SO  - Eur Respir J1997 Feb 01; 10
AB  - Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an uncommon disorder of unknown aetiology characterized by inflammation and destruction of the cartilaginous structures of many organs, including the tracheobronchial tree. When untreated, there is a high mortality rate, usually from respiratory obstructive complications. An 8 year old white girl, with a previous diagnosis of RP, was referred to our department for evaluation of worsening dyspnoea. Bronchoscopy showed localized inflammatory and fibrotic alterations of the mucosa, leading to severe obstruction of the left mainstem bronchus at its origin. The condition was successfully treated by endoscopic neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd YAG) laser. Re-evaluation of the patient, 7 months later, demonstrated bronchial stenosis and malacia requiring mechanical dilatation and positioning of an endobronchial silicon stent, which was well-tolerated by the patient.