Tracheobronchopathy osteochondroplastica: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Tracheobronchopathy osteochondroplastica is a rare benign disease of uncertain etiology, characterized by multiple cartilaginous or bony submucosal nodules in trachea, bronchi and, less frequently, subglottic region and larynx. The clinical presentation of the disease varies from asymptomatic patients to severe disease with airway obstruction. The gold standard for diagnosis is bronchoscopy, which typically displays the presence of multiple submucosal nodules that project into the lumen of the airway. Biopsy is not required for diagnosis. The treatment of the disease is usually symptomatic management. In patients with severe airway obstruction bronchoscopic therapies such as laser ablation, cryotherapy or mechanical removal have been performed. Surgical resolution has also been attempted, being generally ineffective. We report the case of a patient evaluated in our department, in whom the diagnosis of tracheobronchopathy osteochondroplastica with tracheobronchial and subglottic compromise was made.