Background: Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare idiopathic disease with a stable course that involves the mucous membrane of the tracheobronchial tree. Most cases present no specific symptoms, and there are currently no established guidelines for diagnosis and treatment. In this report, we discuss a single case of a patient with TO who was diagnosed based on clinical imaging and histopathology.
Case summary: A patient with a history of smoking and alcohol consumption, but no specific clinical symptoms, was diagnosed with TO after undergoing fiber-optic bronchoscopy. Nodular processes with smooth surface mucosa and detached bronchial mucosa were observed. The presence of TO was confirmed by pathological examination.
Conclusion: The diagnosis of TO is difficult, and early fiber-optic bronchoscopy and pathological examination should be performed to facilitate the diagnosis.
Keywords: bronchus; case report; ossification; trachea.