[Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica--a rare condition in lower respiratory tract (author's transl)]

In a 55 years old male patient bronchoscopy was carried out because of suspected bronchial carcinoma. Chest X-ray showed a lesion in the periphery of left lung, an episode of hemoptysis was reported 4 weeks prior to the examination. During bronchoscopy we found numerous small tumours on the mucosa of distal trachea and left main bronchus. The findings suggested a widespread malignant process, whereas histological examination of biopsies showed tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica. In the case described we could not find amyloidosis of tracheal wall or disorders in somatotropine secretion. Pathogenesis and clinical features of the disease, which is in a high percentage detected by chance or post mortem, are discussed.