Tracheal stenosis
Last revised by Tariq Walizai
on 18 Nov 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Walizai T, Ranchod A, Farhadi M, et al. Tracheal stenosis. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 25 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-15607
Permalink:
rID:
15607
Article created:
29 Oct 2011,
The Radswiki ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created The Radswiki had no recorded disclosures.
View The Radswiki's current disclosures
Last revised:
18 Nov 2024,
Tariq Walizai
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures
Revisions:
12 times, by
9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Synonyms:
- Stenosis of the trachea
- Stenosis of trachea
Tracheal stenosis is usually acquired following intubation or tracheostomy. It can also arise as part of the spectrum of tracheobronchial stenosis.
Pathology
Inflammation and pressure necrosis of the tracheal mucosa most commonly occur at either the tracheostomy stoma or at the level of the tube balloon. Acute post-intubation stenosis results from mucosal edema or granulation tissue.
Post-intubation stenosis can extend for several centimeters and typically involves trachea above the level of the thoracic inlet.
Post-tracheostomy stenosis typically begins 1 to 1.5 cm distal to the inferior margin of the tracheostomy stoma and involves 1.5 to 2.5 cm of tracheal wall.
In patients with chronic stricture, tracheomalacia may result from weakness of tracheal cartilage and can be a cause of dyspnea.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Narrowing of tracheal air shadow.
CT
Eccentric or concentric soft tissue thickening internal to normal-appearing tracheal cartilage may be visible. The outer tracheal wall has a normal appearance without evidence of deformity or narrowing. Expiratory CT shows little change in tracheal diameter.
References
- 1. Webb EM, Elicker BM, Webb WR. Using CT to diagnose nonneoplastic tracheal abnormalities: appearance of the tracheal wall. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2000;174 (5): 1315-21. AJR Am J Roentgenol (full text) - Pubmed citation
- 2. Puchalski J, Musani AI. Tracheobronchial stenosis: causes and advances in management. (2013) Clinics in chest medicine. 34 (3): 557-67. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2013.05.002 - Pubmed
- 3. Hewitt RJ, Butler CR, Maughan EF, Elliott MJ. Congenital tracheobronchial stenosis. (2016) Seminars in pediatric surgery. 25 (3): 144-9. doi:10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2016.02.007 - Pubmed
- 4. Andy Adam, Adrian K. Dixon, Jonathan H. Gillard. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. (2020) ISBN: 9780702075247 - Google Books
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Cases:
- Severe tracheal narrowing due to multinodular goitre following FNA
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- Tracheal stenosis
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- Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) with tracheal stenosis
- Tracheal stenosis - post-intubation
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