Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica

Respir Med. 1997 Sep;91(8):499-502. doi: 10.1016/s0954-6111(97)90117-7.

Abstract

A case of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) was diagnosed in a 68-year-old male with prolonged cough. A bronchoscopy revealed multiple nodular excrescences along the anterolateral wall of the trachea and main bronchi. Tissue specimens showed pronounced change of bronchial cartilage with massive mineralization diagnostic for TO. The literature on the subject is reviewed here. The aetiology and pathogenesis is unknown. The severity of TO range from no symptoms to severe dyspnoea, haemoptysis or pneumonitis. Treatment is seldom necessary. However, in severe cases, bronchoscopic removal of obstructing excrescences and surgery has been performed with therapeutic effect. Differential diagnosis of nodular excrescences includes amyloidosis, endobronchial sarcoidosis, calcificating lesions of tuberculosis, papilomatosis and tracheobronchial calcinosis. Awareness of the condition as a differential diagnosis to neo-plasms is important, to avoid unnecessary surgery or chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bone and Bones*
  • Bronchial Diseases / pathology*
  • Cartilage*
  • Choristoma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Tracheal Diseases / pathology*