Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica presenting at the time of a difficult intubation

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare and usually benign disorder affecting the trachea and occasionally the bronchi. We describe the case of a 46-year-old woman who was discovered to have TO at the time of a difficult intubation. This case was also unusual since the patient had presented no previous symptoms despite the presence of extensive endotracheal and bronchial lesions. The incidence of TO appears to be underestimated in the literature in view of the fact that it is usually benign. However, a more accurate estimate of its true prevalence may become available through the use of bronchoscopy and computerized tomographic scanning.