We describe idiopathic laryngotracheal and upper tracheal stenosis in
49 patients with no other cause for their stenosis. Traumatic, iatroge
nic, infectious, and specific inflammatory processes were excluded. Hi
stopathologically dense fibrosis of keloidal type thickened the lamina
propria and choked the ducts of mucous glands but did not destroy car
tilage. Thirty-five patients were treated by single-stage resection an
d reconstruction: 29 by laryngotracheal resection with laryngotracheop
lasty and 6 by cricotracheal segmental resection. Thirty-two patients
achieved good or excellent results in respiration and voice, 2 needed
annual dilations, and 1 required permanent tracheostomy.