[Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: a clinicopathological analysis of 18 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinical symptoms, imaging features, pathologic manifestations and diagnosis of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO). Methods: The clinical data, imaging and pathologic features and outcome of 18 TO patients diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2011 to August 2018 were collected and analyzed. Results: The 18 TO patients included 10 males and 8 females; patients' age range was 31 to 64 years (mean 52 years). Six patients (6/18) were smokers. The main presenting clinical symptoms included cough in 15 cases, expectoration in eight cases (8/18), hemoptysis in five cases (5/18), chest tightness in four cases, wheezing in three cases and chest pain in two cases. The time interval between the initial symptoms and diagnosis was 1.5 to 360.0 months, and the average time interval was 45.2 months. Blood calcium and phosphorus were normal in 18 patients (18/18). Chest X-ray showed no direct evidence of TO. Six patients (6/18) showed irregular changes in the trachea or bronchial wall by chest CT scan. Three patients (3/18) had mild ventilatory obstruction. TO was classified as: 10 cases (10/18) were scattered type, seven cases (7/18) were diffuse type and one case (1/18) was confluent type. Epithelial squamous metaplasia, submucosal cartilage, submucosal ossification and hematopoietic bone marrow within the ossified areas were the characteristic histopathologic findings of TO. Conclusions: TO is a rare benign disorder that shows atypical presentation. CT scan is insensitive, the histopathology shows submucosal cartilage or ossification. TO should be diagnosed by comprehensive consideration of clinical symptoms, imaging and pathology.