ABSTRACT

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TPO) is a rare bening chronic disease that affects the lower part of the trachea and the upper part of the main bronchi and is characterized by multiple submucosal ossified and/or cartilaginous nodules projecting into the lumen of the airway. Here we report a case of TPO diagnosed during surgical tracheostomy by repeated tracheostomy tube-cuff rupture. Repeated cuff rupture during surgical tracheostomy occurred possibly because of bony and cartilaginous tissue in the tracheal wall. Many TPO patients are unable to be diagnosed because they are asympthomatic. In diagnosing TPO, the typical scene from Fiberoptic broncoscopy (FOB) is very pathognomonic and biopsy is not always necessary; FOB also helps to screen the tracheal area. If bed side percutaneous tracheostomy or surgical tracheostomy is planned, FOB may be routinely performed to diagnose TPO and/or to prevent complications from percutaneous or surgical tracheostomy.