Presentation
Fever and difficulty in breathing.
Patient Data
Incidental finding of calcification of the tracheal and bronchial cartilage.
Large hiatus hernia.
Case Discussion
Physiological tracheal and bronchial cartilage calcification is asymptomatic and typically affects women over 40, progressing with age.
Generalized calcification of airway cartilage can also be seen in end-stage renal disease, also in adults and children taking warfarin which inhibits vitamin K-dependent proteins. Vitamin K normally prevents calcification of cartilage and connective tissue 1-3.
Other causes of calcification can be distinguished by appearance and clinical features.