CT manifestations of tracheobronchial involvement in relapsing polychondritis

J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1988 Sep-Oct;12(5):792-3. doi: 10.1097/00004728-198809010-00014.

Abstract

Two patients with relapsing polychondritis presented with tracheobronchial stenosis without clinical manifestation of nasal septum or ear lobe cartilage involvement. The CT findings included diffuse, smooth tracheobronchial wall thickening with narrowing and deformity of the lumen. Areas of dense calcium deposition within the thickened tracheal cartilage were seen. On follow-up after steroid medication, tracheobronchial wall thickening was decreased and the configuration of the tracheal lumen returned to normal.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bronchi / pathology
  • Bronchography*
  • Constriction, Pathologic / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polychondritis, Relapsing / complications
  • Polychondritis, Relapsing / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Trachea / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tracheal Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Tracheal Stenosis / etiology