[Tracheomalacia as a cause of chronic cough].
Tracheomalacia is a rare condition involving increased flaccidity of the tracheal cartilage, widening of the posterior membranous wall and a reduced airway calibre. This combination can cause a tracheal collapse, expiratory flow obstruction and decreased clearance of secretions. We present a case of a 70-year-old woman with severe coughing symptoms and obvious tracheomalacia diagnosed with a high resolution computed tomography in the expiratory phase. On a computed tomography, tracheomalacia has an easily recognizable pattern, which is only visible during expiration. Tracheomalacia is probably an underdiagnosed condition.
Billeddiagnostisk Afdeling, Hillerød Hospital, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark. mathilde.winkler@gmail.com
Mathilde Marie Winkler
MM
Wille
Annemarie
A
Amtoft
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055090:Tracheomalacia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging