Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: a review of the literature

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica in the setting of COVID-19

Tracheobronchopathia osteoplastica (TO) is a rare, benign disease of unknown etiology, primarily affecting the major tracheobronchial tree, characterized by irregular nodular calcifications of the cartilaginous component of the inner wall of the tracheobronchial tree while sparing the posterior wall, leading to progressive narrowing of the airway. We report the case of a 60-year-old male otherwise healthy nonsmoker, who complained of chronic breathing discomfort and recurrent chest infections and was found to have TO according to radiographic, microlaryngoscopic, and biopsy findings. He experienced a flare up with worsening of disease progression after years of being in stable condition, after his infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Multi-Nodule of Large Airway: Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica, Two Cases Report and Literature Review

We report two subjects with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO), including the clinical manifestations, histological findings, and clinical treatments, which were analyzed retrospectively. One patient with TO was a 60-year-old woman, and the other was a 47-year-old man. The main clinical manifestations were cough, chest pain, and dyspnea. Computed tomography (CT) images showed that TO mainly occurred in the trachea and main bronchus. Histological analysis showed inflammatory exudation, squamous metaplasia, submucosal cartilaginous, and ossification. We present the two cases to increase physician and patient awareness of this benign disease and to improve their understanding of the disease manifestations and potential complications.

Tracheopathia osteochondroplastica-A benign disorder with a daunting appearance

Tracheopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare and benign condition. It typically manifests as multiple osteocartilaginous nodules in the submucosa of the central airway. TO-related clinical symptoms and physical signs are nonspecific. The bronchoscopic examination is helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Treatment for TO is mostly conservative and symptom-oriented. The prognosis of TO is generally good, although cases of associated airway stenosis have been reported. In this case report, we describe the clinical, imaging, and histological features, and videoed bronchoscopic findings, of a middle-aged male patient with incidentally diagnosed TO.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: a case report highlighting the importance of clinico-radiologic correlation

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TBPO) is a rare and benign idiopathic disease of the tracheobronchial tree, characterized by osseous, and/or cartilaginous submucosal nodules involving the anterior and lateral walls of the airways with sparing of the posterior wall. We present a case of a 51-year-old non-smoker female, presenting with a 2-year history of gradually enlarging anterior neck mass with foreign body sensation, frequent throat clearing, and occasional hoarseness. She was initially diagnosed with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis due to the presence of nodules on flexible laryngoscopy. A plain neck and chest CT then showed irregularity of the tracheal walls with calcified nodules projecting into the lumen, sparing the posterior wall, consistent with TBPO. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with biopsy was also done which confirmed the inferior extent of the nodules down to the level of the carina, and the presence of fragments of mature bone tissue within the nodules.

Clinical Characteristics of Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica: A Retrospective Study of 33 Patients

Introduction

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a relatively rare benign tracheobronchial disease, which is often misdiagnosed or missed. To date, there is no specific treatment for TO. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations, imaging features, bronchoscopy results, pathological findings, and diagnostic points of TO.

Patients and methods

A total of 33 patients diagnosed with TO were enrolled. Clinical data were collected using retrospective methods in the period from January 2021 and November 2022. Descriptive analysis was used.

Results

Patients included 17 (51.5%) male and 16 (48.5%) female, with a median age of 54 years. The main clinical manifestations included cough in 15 cases, fever in 6 cases, chest tightness in 4 cases, haemoptysis in 3 cases, and chest pain in 4 cases. The time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 1 week to 96 months. Some patients were diagnosed with other lung diseases, including 16 patients with tuberculosis, 2 patients with lung cancer, 3 patients with nontuberculous mycobacteriosis, 3 patients with tuberculous pleurisy, 2 patients with bronchiectasis, and 1 patient with pneumonia. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated calcified nodules in 10 (30.3%) patients. In bronchoscopy, entire tracheal involvement was found in 21 (63.6%) patients, 12 (36.4%) patients were found to have involvement of only part of the trachea. The patients were divided into three groups according to the bronchoscopic presentation, the largest proportion was stage II (19/33), followed by stage I (8/33) and stage III (6/33). Histopathological findings showed squamous metaplasia, cartilaginous, and bony tissues.

Conclusion

TO is a slowly progressing disease with non-specific clinical symptoms and a low positive rate of imaging diagnosis, making it susceptible to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. The disease needs to be diagnosed by combining imaging features, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and pathological findings.

Severe tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica in an asymptomatic patient

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare condition affecting the lumen of the tracheobronchial tree. It is characterised by the presence of multiple osseous and cartilaginous nodules with posterior wall sparing. While it is a benign condition, it can cause narrowing of the tracheal lumen and subglottis to varying degrees. Approximately 400 cases have been reported worldwide, with an incidence of 0.3% in autopsies and between 1 in 125 and 1 in 5000 on bronchoscopy. As most patients are asymptomatic, this may contribute to underdiagnoses and relative low incidence. Severity of the condition is often unrelated to patient symptomatology. We present a patient with one of the most severe cases of TO seen at our institution. Despite being asymptomatic, significant tracheal and bronchial narrowing was found incidentally on laryngobronchoscopy.

A rare case of rapidly progressive Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica

Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare benign disorder that is seldom progressive. Here, we report a case diagnosed with TO in our hospital. Bronchoscopy revealed multiple cartilaginous and ossifying nodules that are diagnostic for TO. Nodules protruding into the airways were observed as widespread and extended by the repeat bronchoscopy after 2 months of the diagnosis. TO was confirmed with the histopathology of the biopsies from nodules. Then he was referred to an interventional pulmonologist for laser ablation.

Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica: A Rare, Underrecognized Entity

Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica (TO) is an extremely rare condition characterized by the presence of nodules made of bone and cartilage within the submucosa of the tracheobronchial wall. These protuberant nodules inside the trachea and bronchi can lead to airway obstruction, resulting in patients who experience recurrent respiratory systems and infections. The exact etiology is unknown. The mean age of diagnosis is in the 5th - 6th decades of life. TO is often confused with other diagnoses, especially asthma. We report a 41-year-old female who presented with intermittent exertional dyspnea for 10 years. Workups, including pulmonary function test, CT chest, and most importantly, flexible bronchoscopy, aided in the appropriate diagnosis. The unique feature observed during bronchoscopy is the sparing of the posterior wall of the trachea and bronchi.

A rare case of hemoptysis

A 39-year-old nonsmoker male presented with complaints of cough with recurrent mild hemoptysis. Computed tomography of thorax showed nodular lesions on the right lateral wall of trachea. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy revealed multiple nodular lesions on the right lateral wall of lower one-third of trachea. Histopathological examination of biopsy specimen from the nodules was suggestive of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica which is an uncommon airway disorder.

CT findings of non-neoplastic central airways diseases

Non-neoplastic lesions of central airways are uncommon entities with different etiologies, with either focal or diffuse involvement of the tracheobronchial tree. Clinical symptoms of non-neoplastic tracheobronchial diseases are non-specific, and diagnosis is difficult, especially in the early stages. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) is an evaluable tool as it allows to assess and characterize tracheobronchial wall lesions and meanwhile it enables the evaluation of airways surrounding structures. Multiplanar reconstructions (MPR), minimum intensity projections (MinIP), and 3D Volume Rendering (VR) (in particular, virtual bronchoscopy) also provide information on the site and of the length of airway alterations. This review will be discussed about (1) primary airway disorders, such as relapsing polychondritis, tracheobronchophathia osteochondroplastica, and tracheobronchomegaly, (2) airway diseases, related to granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Chron's disease, Behcet's disease, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, infections, intubation and transplantation, (3) tracheobronchial malacia, and (4) acute tracheobronchial injury. 3D-CT findings, especially with MPR and 3D VR reconstructions, allows us to evaluate tracheobronchial disease morphologically in detail.

Chronic cough with dual pathologies of pulmonary ossification

An 81-year-old man presented with chronic cough, which did not respond to the initiation of combined bronchodilator/inhaled corticosteroid therapy. CT of the chest revealed calcified nodules throughout the trachea sparing the posterior membrane, and tiny peripheral parenchymal nodules with basal interlobular septal thickening and calcification. Flexible bronchoscopy demonstrated endobronchial nodularity from the proximal trachea to the mid-sections of both main bronchi, sparing the posterior membrane. Histopathology revealed submucosal fibrous connective tissue and benign bone, confirming a diagnosis of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica. CT was consistent with a concurrent diagnosis of dendriform pulmonary ossification. These two rare phenomena often present with non-specific symptoms, and the diagnosis can be made with imaging in both conditions. There is a role for bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of tracheobronchopathia osteochondropastica, and the endobronchial appearance could be diagnostic. The concurrence of both phenomena in our case might represent activity of a common cellular pathway of ossification in both sites.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica-stalactite of airways

A case of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) was diagnosed in a 53-year-old man, who presented with prolonged cough and recurrent respiratory tract infection. Bronchoscopy revealed exostosis over the anterolateral wall of trachea and main bronchi sparing the posterior membranous wall. The endobronchial biopsy subsequently revealed ossification of the cartilage. To date, the aetiology of this condition remains unknown, and treatment is mainly symptomatic, emphasizing on timely management of recurrent respiratory infections. Bronchoscopy or surgical intervention is usually reserved for symptomatic patients with severe airway narrowing and airflow obstruction.

Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica-Clinical, Radiological, and Endoscopic Correlation: Case Series and Literature Review

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare idiopathic and benign disease that is often underdiagnosed. TO is characterized by multiple submucosal cartilaginous and osseous tracheobronchial nodules that spare the posterior wall. It usually affects the elderly, developing when the person is around 60 years old without gender preference and has a reported incidence of 0.11%. TO can be symptomatic and should be considered in patients with chronic cough, dyspnea, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Diagnosis is usually incidental by computed tomography or bronchoscopy, the latter being the gold standard diagnostic test for TO. Many thoracic imagers are not well acquainted with TO; thus, these patients are often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. We came across 5 patients in our institution who were incidentally diagnosed with TO, inspiring us to review the available literature on this disease. A total of 33 patients diagnosed with TO between 2009 and 2019 were identified by our retrospective review. Clinical and imaging data were collected on these patients. We also included the clinical, radiological, and endoscopic data of our 5 cases. TO should be considered in patients with chronic cough, dyspnea, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Our experience is that both computed tomography and bronchoscopy can be used to make a reliable diagnosis. It is crucial for physicians, especially radiologists and pulmonologists, to be aware of the existence of TO in order to ensure proper diagnosis.

A 69-Year-Old Man With Chronic Cough and Recurrent Pneumonia

CASE PRESENTATION

A 69-year-old man consulted for a 3-day history of fever, wet cough, and yellow-green phlegm. He denied having any dyspnea, chest pain, hemoptysis, swallowing disorders, choke, chills, asthenia, anorexia, or weight loss. He reported a continuous dry cough and three episodes of pneumonia in the past 4 years. He was a nonsmoker, without any other personal or familial medical history. He had no known professional exposure. He was born and lived in Vietnam but had no known contact with TB in his family or workplace. He was never imprisoned or homeless and did never travel abroad.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: a cause of chronic cough and haemoptysis

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TPO) is a rare disorder of the tracheopulmonary tree characterised by osseous and cartilaginous submucosal nodules projecting into the tracheal lumen, sparing the posterior tracheal membranous wall. Symptoms are non-specific and may include dry cough, hoarseness, dyspnoea, recurrent pneumonia and occasionally haemoptysis. A fibreoptic bronchoscopy showing multiple tracheal nodules followed by pathological biopsy is required to reach the final diagnosis. Here, we report two cases of TPO, both with history of biomass fuel exposure and almost similar clinical presentions with chronic cough, shortness of breath and intermittent haemoptysis. They both underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy showing multiple tracheal nodules whose histopathological analysis showed the diagnosis of TPO. Both patients were treated conservatively and remained in good health afterwards. Physicians should be aware about the need of advanced surgical procedures including endotracheal stent placement in more severe cases.

Intubation Technique in a Patient with Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica

BACKGROUND Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare disorder characterized by cartilaginous or ossified submucosal nodules of unknown etiology that project into the tracheobronchial lumen. TO is often accompanied by endotracheal stenosis from cartilage proliferation and is often detected by difficult endotracheal intubation incidence. CASE REPORT Here we report the case of a patient (67-year-old man) with TO scheduled to undergo robot-assisted total prostatectomy for prostate cancer. The tracheal lumen was especially narrow at an area 1 cm below the glottis, with the smallest lumen diameter being 9 mm. After rapid induction, the bronchoscope passed through the stenosed region, and a 6.5-mm spiral endotracheal tube (ETT) was inserted with bronchoscopic assistance. However, because of resistance, the spiral ETT could not pass through the stenosed area. After changing to a 6.5-mm normal ETT, intubation was successfully performed with gentle rotation. Owing to the rotation, the tip entered and gained access to the gap between nodules. With use of a bronchoscope, we confirmed that the tip of the ETT was advanced 10 cm from the glottis, where the site of maximum stenosis was not covered by the tube cuff, and where the tip did not cross the bifurcation. After surgery, no bleeding or edema was found on bronchoscopy. CONCLUSIONS In patients with TO, it is important to assess the airway condition and prepare for difficult intubation. In this case, tracheal intubation was performed with rotation using a bronchoscope and normal ETT.

Study and reflection on anesthesia for tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare disease that may cause unexpected difficult intubation. There is no available consensus on the management of difficult intubation that is associated with TO. A 45-year-old woman was scheduled for modified radical mastoidectomy, canaloplasty, and tympanoplasty under general anesthesia. We encountered significant resistance during tracheal intubation, although the laryngeal view was normal with the video laryngoscope. A fiberoptic bronchoscope was then used to facilitate intubation, and we noted that the trachea was obviously narrowed due to cartilaginous ring hypertrophy. The tracheal tube was fully lubricated with tetracaine gel, and smoothly inserted into the trachea. After the operation, bronchoscopy and a computed tomography (CT) scan were performed to confirm the diagnosis of TO. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy-assisted tracheal intubation is safe and effective choice for the patients in whom subglottic intubation is difficult. CT scan and bronchoscopy might be helpful for preoperative airway assessment. Identifying patients with TO is important to avoid unexpected tracheal intubation impediment. Assessment of the subglottic airway should also be taken seriously.

Clinical course of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica

Background

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TPO) is characterized by the presence of diffuse cartilaginous or bony submucosal nodules that lead to airway lumen narrowing. So far, there was no study in South Korea analysing a large number of TPO patients. We aimed to elucidate its treatment strategy and clinical course by analysing the characteristics of TPO patients.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we reviewed the clinical data of 40 patients diagnosed with TPO by bronchoscopy between October 1997 and April 2019 at a single referral hospital.

Results

Of the 40 patients, 26 (65.0%) were male and the median age was 63.0 years. The most common symptom was cough (n=12, 30%). Pulmonary function test (PFT) revealed an obstructive pattern in 10 (25.7%) patients. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed 23 (62.6%) patients with diffuse narrowing and calcified nodules. In bronchoscopy, the entire trachea was found to be involved in 30 (75.0%) patients and airway narrowing was identified in 6 (15.0%) patients. Endobronchial biopsies were obtained from 15 patients and the most common findings included typical cartilaginous and bony tissues (n=14, 93.3%). Since most patients were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, they did not undergo any specific treatment. Of the 19 symptomatic patients, 2 (5.0%) patients received laser therapy for treating tracheal stenosis.

Conclusions

TPO is a slowly progressing disease and is well managed with conservative therapies. Although TPO shows a distinctive pattern by bronchoscopy, it follows a benign clinical course.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: rare but not to be forgotten

We report a case of a 59-year-old male with a one-month history of pleuritic chest pain who was diagnosed with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO). TO is a rare benign condition characterized by protruding submucosal nodules into the tracheobronchial lumen. The disease is generally asymptomatic, with rare cases of progressive nodularity, cough, dyspnoea, and haemoptysis. Diagnosis can be made via bronchoscopic visualization of bony and cartilaginous nodules on tracheal walls. Although generally benign, the rarity of this condition makes diagnosis difficult even for trained pulmonologists and frequently predisposes patients to unnecessary invasive diagnostic testing and improper management of symptoms and contributing co-morbid conditions. We present this case to increase physician and patient awareness about this disease to help improve diagnostic strategy and knowledge of disease manifestations and potential complications.

Rare Manifestation of Idiopathic Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica: Misdiagnosed and Untreated Entity?

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TBPO) is a rare benign disease of unknown cause, in which multiple cartilaginous or bony submucosal nodules project into the trachea and proximal bronchi. It usually occurs in men in their fifth decade and can cause airway obstruction, bleeding and chronic cough; patients are more prone to post-obstructive pneumonia and chronic lung infection in some instances. We report a case of a 69-year-old female who presented with shortness of breath and lower extremity swelling over the past couple of weeks. Echocardiography (ECHO) was consistent with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and she was treated with diuretics accordingly. Imaging revealed persistent pleural effusions bilaterally, more pronounced on the right side. During the course of her hospitalization, the patient coded once and had to be resuscitated. She had bronchoscopy done and pathology was consistent with TBPO. In this condition, there are numerous osseous or cartilaginous submucosal nodules in the trachea and the main bronchus and nodules are formed due to the deposition of calcium phosphate that results in the proliferation of osseous and cartilaginous structures resulting in the obstruction of large airways. Treatment for the most part is supportive and resolves around bronchodilators for symptomatic relief.

Clinical Characteristics of Six Cases of Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica

Objective

To investigate the clinical characteristics of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO).

Methods

The clinical data of six patients with TO from November 2016 to November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of TO were summarized.

Result

All six patients with TO were middle-aged males, confirmed by histopathological examination. The main clinical symptoms were cough, sputum, hemoptysis, chest pain, and repeated pulmonary infection. Some patients could make a preliminary diagnosis by chest CT, and bronchoscopy showed that TO mainly occurred in the trachea and the main bronchus and was more likely to invade the right bronchus. The treatment mainly includes anti-infection, phlegm-resolving, and other symptomatic treatment.

Conclusion

TO is a benign disease predisposing to adults, and males are more likely to be affected. Its clinical manifestations are lack of specificity, and the cause may be related to chronic infection. Bronchoscopy combined with histopathological examination is the primary approach for the diagnosis of TO. There is no well-recognized treatment standard for TO, and the judgment of therapeutic effect is inconsistent. It is necessary to improve the understanding of this disease from a clinical perspective.

Difficult intubation in an asymptomatic patient with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare, benign, slowly progressive disease of unknown aetiology. It is characterized by numerous sessile, cartilaginous, or osseous submucosal nodules distributed throughout the anterolateral walls of the trachea and projecting into the laryngotracheobronchial lumen. The diagnosis is usually incidental with distinct bronchoscopic or computed tomography (CT) scan findings. We have identified a case of asymptomatic TO through fibreoptic bronchoscopy and biopsy after having a difficult intubation for elective prostate surgery.

Autofluorescence imaging bronchoscopy as a novel approach to the management of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: a case report

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is not only rare but also presents highly varied and unpredictable clinical manifestations. Consequently, the management and treatment strategies remain unclear. An accurate evaluation tool is important for the management of individual patients in the absence of standard guidelines. Although bronchoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis, it cannot satisfactorily detect the treatment response and disease progression because subtle mucosal changes can go undetected. Therefore, improved techniques that can detect subtle mucosal changes associated with TO are desirable. Autofluorescence imaging bronchoscopy (AFI) is a recently introduced advanced endoscopic technology that can detect subtle mucosal changes with the aid of different colors. Here we report the first case, to the best of our knowledge, involving a 42-year-old man with TO in whom tracheal involvement was evaluated by AFI and detected as the appearance of a magenta color.

Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica: a rare case report of a non-smoker and non-atopic patient, with a long history of wheezing since childhood

Background

Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica (TBPO) is an uncommon and benign condition characterized by osseous or metaplastic cartilaginous 1–3 mm nodules in the submucosa of the tracheo-bronchial tree. Posterior membranous wall of trachea is typically spared. Ecchondrosis and exostosis nodules can cause chronic inflammation and mucosal metaplasia, stiffness and airway obstruction. The prevalence of this disease, often asymptomatic or associated with nonspecific symptoms, is underestimated, and the mean age at diagnosis is 50 years.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 49 year old male, non-smoker. He was a smith, homeless, born in Romania and reported a diagnosis of asthma since childhood. He was admitted to our Respiratory Unit presenting low-grade fever with profuse sweating, cough, purulent sputum, and ground-glass opacity with irregularity in main bronchi detected by High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) scan.

Fibrobronchoscopy revealed the presence of mucosal irregularities up to the segmental bronchi entrance. Histological examination showed nodules of osseouscartilaginous nature, consistent with TBPO. Microbiological tests of Bronchoalveolar Lavage fluid also revealed an infection by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.

Conclusion

TBPO is a rare disease characterized by wheezing, cough, hemoptysis, and recurrent pulmonary infections, with typical onset during adulthood. In the case reported, the symptoms began in childhood, although they had been misinterpreted as asthma. Even if childhood-onset is not reported in literature, it is likely that small changes occur in the first few years of life and become more evident in adulthood. The involvement of segmental and sub-segmental bronchi, usually spared in TBPO, could explain the presence of wheezing and non-productive cough reported by our patient since childhood.