[Tracheomalacia and secondary tracheopatia osteocondroplasica - a case report]

Tracheomalacia is a condition of the neonatal and infant airway, characterized by weakness of the supporting tracheal cartilage and widening of the posterior membranous wall. Together, these factors cause tracheal collapse, especially during times of increased airflow. The diagnosis of major airway collapse depends upon an accurate history combined with proper endoscopic evaluation. Tracheomalacia can be caused by a diffuse process of congenital origin or by a localized abnormality. The cases of acquired tracheomalacia occur with increasing frequency both in children and adults and are often not clearly recognized. These lesions may result from indwelling tracheostomy and endobronchial tube, chest trauma, chronic tracheobronchitis, inflammation (relapsing polychondritis), secondary to pulmonary resection, tracheal malignancy (cylindroma), and idiopathically. We present the case of a 59 years old male with acquired tracheobronchomalacia, associated with tracheopatia osteochondroplasica, secondary to COPD and a chronic parenchimal infection, on a diabetes mellitus type II background.