Causes of tracheomalacia
Dr Jeremy Jones and Dr Vinod G Maller et al.
A dilated trachea has numerous causes, and in almost all cases represents tracheomalacia (increased size and increased compliance).
As is almost always the case various diameters have been used. Typical figures include >26mm (in men), >23mm in women or >3cm for both genders.
Although many of the underlying conditions congenital, actual dilatation of the trachea and symptomatic presentation is only later in adulthood. Thus the term congenital in the list below refers to the underlying cause, rather than presence of tracheomegaly at birth.
Congenital
- cystic fibrosis
- Mounier-Kuhn syndrome (tracheobronchomegaly)
- idiopathic or associated with:
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (in adults)
- cutis laxa (in children)
- Marfan syndrome
- Kenny-Caffey syndrome
- Cornelia-de Lange syndrome
- Bruton-type agammaglobulinemia
Acquired
Acquired tracheomalacia is a common finding, seen in approximately 10% of CT and up to 23% of autopsy and bronchoscopy series 5.
Common
- normal ageing
- prolonged intubation, especially in those with a tracheostomy
- chronic bronchitis
- emphysema
- diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, especially secondary to radiation
Uncommon
- relapsing polychondritis
- playing wind instruments
- inhalation of noxious fumes
- ataxia-telangiectasia
- ankylosing spondylitis
- light-chain deposition disease
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