Two Cases of Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica

Abstract

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplatica (TPO) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of multiple ossified or cartilaginous sessile nodules mainly within the submucosa of the trachea and bronchi, The patients are usually asymptomatic. Sometimes, however, cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, or recurrent respiratory infection may develop. Its etiology is not known, but is considered to be benign. In the past, most of the cases were diagnosed incidentally at autopsy. But with an introduction of bronchoscopy and computed tomography, antemortem diagnosis has been reported. We report herein two cases of TPO (including a case which showed involvement of the segmental #bronchi) diagnosed by computed tomography, 99riTechnetium-MDP thorax scan, bronchoscopic examination and biopsy. A brief review of the literature is also given.