SPIRAL CT AND ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS IN A CASE OF TRACHEOBRONCHOPATHIA OSTEOCHONDROPLASTICA

The following is a report of CT and bronchoscopic findings in a 58-yea r-old man, a miner for similar to 30 years and suffering from pulmonar y silicosis, admitted for a restaging of his lung disease. CT scans sh owed thickening of the interstitial structures and revealed a distorte d trachea, with changes oi. its caliber, because of nodules of calcifi c density in the internal mucosa, clearly separated from the cartilagi nous rings. The patient underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy, confirming the presence of numerous nodules on the anterior and lateral walls, sp aring the pars membranacea. Brushing and biopsies revealed a squamous metaplasia. Tc-99m bone scintigraphy showed no abnormal mediastinal up take. The radiological and endoscopic picture was compatible with the diagnosis of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica.