Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica

Imaging description Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is characterized by the presence of osteocartilaginous calcified nodules within the submucosa of the cartilaginous portions of the tracheal and mainstem bronchial walls. On CT, the disease is characterized by the presence of calcified nodular opacities that protrude into the airway lumen resulting in diffuse irregular tracheal narrowing which spares the posterior membranous portion of the airway wall [1–3] (Figures 4.1 and 4.2). Although calcification is typically present, not all lesions will be calcified. Importance TO is a rare benign disease that is typically asymptomatic and is often discovered incidentally at imaging. Recognition of the sparing of the posterior membranous portion of the tracheal wall by this process will typically allow exclusion of the other causes of nodular tracheal wall thickening [1–3].