Atypical presentation of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: Is chronic inflammation a perpetrator?

Objective: To report an atypical presentation of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO). Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 59-year-old man was investigated for productive cough of 1 month. An antimycobacterial combination regime was initiated with a misdiagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis. At follow-up, the patient reported worsening of his symptoms. CT revealed an increased intensity of the cartilage ring surrounding the trachea, and bronchoscopy showed tracheal stenosis with white, hard nodules on the airway submucosa. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of TO. Conclusion: This case showed that TO should be considered in patients with cough not explained by noninvasive testing and not responsive to empiric medications.