Rare tracheal chondroid hamartoma masquerading as asthma in a 14-year-old girl.
BACKGROUND
Tracheal hamartomas are rare in all age groups and have not been previously described in adolescence.


OBJECTIVE
To report the first case of a tracheal chondroid hamartoma presenting as exercise intolerance and wheezing and previously misdiagnosed and treated as asthma.


METHODS
Symptoms, pulmonary function tests, chest x-ray examination, chest computed tomography, and histologic examination of the specimen were performed.


RESULTS
The pulmonary function tests obtained throughout several years revealed progressive decreases (approximately 30% of predicted) in peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (approximately 50% of predicted). The inspiratory and expiratory flow-volume curve suggested a fixed central airway obstruction. Both the chest x-ray examination and computed tomography revealed an intraluminal tracheal tumor that was surgically excised. Histologic examination revealed a chondroid hamartoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Rare benign primary tracheal tumors, including chondroid hamartoma, can present in adolescence with asthma-like symptoms for years and should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in the setting of appropriately abnormal spirometry or when asthma is very difficult to control.
Nadrous
Hassan F
HF
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Allen
Mark S
MS
Wylam
Mark E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery