title: Tracheobronchomalacia and excessive dynamic airway collapse.
abstract: Tracheobronchomalacia and excessive dynamic airway collapse are two separate forms of dynamic central airway obstruction that may or may not coexist. These entities are increasingly recognized as asthma and COPD imitators. The understanding of these disease processes, however, has been compromised over the years because of uncertainties regarding their definitions, pathogenesis and aetiology. To date, there is no standardized classification, diagnosis or management algorithm. In this article we comprehensively review the aetiology, morphopathology, physiology, diagnosis and treatment of these entities.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Septimiu D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Murgu
authors.forename: Henri G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Colt
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy