TRACHEOBRONCHOPATHIA OSTEOCHONDROPLASTICA

A case of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) was diagnosed in a 68-year-old male with prolonged cough. A bronchoscopy revealed m ultiple nodular excrescences along the anterolateral wall of the trach ea and main bronchi. Tissue specimens showed pronounced change of bron chial cartilage with massive mineralization diagnostic for TO. The lit erature on the subject is reviewed here. The aetiology and pathogenesi s is unknown. The severity of TO range from no symptoms to severe dysp noea, haemoptysis or pneumonitis. Treatment is seldom necessary. Howev er, 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 differential d iagnosis to neo-plasms is important, to avoid unnecessary surgery or c hemotherapy.