title: Endoscopic management of idiopathic tracheal stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Idiopathic tracheal stenosis (ITS) is a rare condition representing a difficult therapeutic challenge. Endoscopic management is a therapeutic option but long-term results are not established. The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to analyze long-term outcome after endoscopic management of ITS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine institutions involved in interventional bronchoscopy were contacted and asked to identify ITS endoscopically treated. A standard form was used to report the main characteristics and long-term outcome after endoscopic management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three patients, 96% women, aged 45±16 years, were endoscopically treated for ITS. Time between first symptoms and diagnosis was 19±18 months. Bronchoscopy showed a weblike (61%) or complex (39%) stenosis, located in the upper part of the trachea, mainly in the cricoid area. Endoscopic treatment included mechanical dilation only (52%) or associated with laser or electrocoagulation (30%) and stent placement (18%). All procedures were efficient. The follow-up after endoscopic management was 41±34 months. The ITS recurrence occurred in 30% at 6 months, 59% at 2 years, and 87% at 5 years, with a delay of 14±16 months. The treatment of recurrence (n=13) included endoscopic management in 12 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic management of ITS provides a safe and efficient therapeutic option but late recurrences are frequent and require long-term follow-up.
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, INSERM UMRS 903, University Hospital of Reims, Reims, France.
authors: Jeanne-Marie
authors: JM
authors: Perotin
authors: Thierry
authors: T
authors: Jeanfaivre
authors: Yoann
authors: Y
authors: Thibout
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Jouneau
authors: Hervé
authors: H
authors: Lena
authors: Hervé
authors: H
authors: Dutau
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Ramon
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Lorut
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Noppen
authors: Jean-Michel
authors: JM
authors: Vergnon
authors: Hervé
authors: H
authors: Vallerand
authors: Jean-Claude
authors: JC
authors: Merol
authors: Charles-Hugo
authors: CH
authors: Marquette
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Lebargy
authors: Gaëtan
authors: G
authors: Deslee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome