Tracheal web
Tracheal webs occur as a thin layer of tissue that narrows the tracheal lumen. They do not completely obstruct the trachea.
Epidemiology
The incidence of congenital tracheal is 1:10,000 births.
Clinical presentation
Some patients will be asymptomatic. Symptomatic patients can present with a cough, infection, wheezing, asthma, and/or shortness of breath.
Pathology
There are two types of tracheal webs:
- congenital
- acquired: mostly post surgery or endotracheal intubation
Radiographic features
A thin linear tracheal web can be seen on CT.
Treatment and prognosis
If symptomatic referral to an ENT surgeon for possible resection. Treatment can include various interventions via bronchoscopy, e.g. YAG Laser, mucosal sparing resections, stents .
Differential diagnosis
- tracheal stenosis: involvement of the tracheal cartilaginous rings
- laryngeal stenosis
- mucous in the trachea
- this can be excluded by repeating and doing prone/ supine and/or inspiratory/expiratory CT scans to see the difference in appearance after coughing
See also
