Recurrent membranous tracheal stenosis with a diverticulum in a 9-year-old boy. Not all that wheezes is asthma

Background. Benign tracheobronchial stenosis of the proximal airways may result from a variety of conditions and can cause dyspnea, cough, wheeze or stridor. Methods and Results. In this report, we describe the case of a 9-year-old boy who was admitted to hospital with wheezing and progressive dyspnea lasting for six months. These abnormalities were diagnosed by multislice CT with 3-dimensional reconstruction of the trachea and by videobronchoscopy which demonstrated severe tracheal stenosis and an orifice of a tracheal diverticulum on the right side of the upper trachea. The stenosis was dilated with a balloon and vaporized with an Nd:YAG laser. Due to recurrent stenosis, the laser procedure had to be repeated several times in an approximately 4-6-month interval. Conclusion. Association between recurrent membranous tracheal stenosis and a tracheal diverticulum is a rare medical condition.