Tracheobronchomegaly
Tracheobronchomegaly is a rare lung condition characterised by abnormal widening of the trachea and main bronchi, typically presenting with no symptoms, or a long-standing cough or recurrent chest infections. There may be copious purulent sputum production, eventually leading to bronchiectasis and other respiratory complications.
It may be acquired secondary to another lung disease or medical lung procedure, but when no cause is identified it is presumed congenital and is known as Mounier-Kühn syndrome.
Diagnosis is by medical imaging and excluding other causes of long-term cough. Typically the trachea appears wide on chest X-ray.
Signs and symptoms
The abnormally widened trachea and mainstem bronchi are associated with recurrent lower respiratory tract infection and copious purulent sputum production, eventually leading to bronchiectasis and other respiratory complications.Diagnosis
Diagnosis is by medical imaging and excluding other causes of long-term cough. Typically the trachea appears wide on chest X-ray.Woodring et al. suggested the following diagnostic criteria for tracheomegaly in adults based on chest radiography:
- Adult Males: Tracheal transverse diameter > 25 mm and sagittal diameter > 27 mm.
- Adult Females: Tracheal transverse diameter > 21 mm and sagittal diameter > 23 mm.