A case of tracheobronchial amyloidosis with emphasis on differential diagnosis

Abstract

Tracheobronchial amyloidosis is a manifestation of amyloidosis of the respiratory tract characterized by focal or diffuse deposition of amyloid in the submucosa of the trachea and proximal bronchi. Tracheobronchial amyloidosis is not associated with systemic amyloidosis or pulmonary parenchymal involvement. It affects predominantly men aged over fifty. Depending on the part of the tracheobronchial tree that is affected, stenosis of the airways causes a variety of unspecific symptoms. Diagnosis is reached by means of typical presentation in CT scan followed by bronchoscopy and histopathological confirmation. Tracheobronchial amyloidosis should be borne in mind in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic cough and/or dyspnea or recurrent respiratory infections.

Zusammenfassung

Die tracheobronchiale Amyloidose ist eine Manifestation der Amyloidose der Atemwege, die durch eine fokale oder diffuse Ablagerung von Amyloid in der Submukosa der Trachea und der proximalen Bronchien gekennzeichnet ist. Die tracheobronchiale Amyloidose ist nicht mit einer systemischen Amyloidose oder einer pulmonal-parenchymalen Beteiligung assoziiert. Sie betrifft vorwiegend Männer ab dem 50. Lebensjahr. Je nachdem, welcher Teil des Tracheobronchialbaums betroffen ist, verursacht die Stenose der Atemwege eine Vielzahl unspezifischer Symptome. Die Diagnose wird durch eine typische Darstellung im CT-Scan mit anschließender Bronchoskopie und histopathologischer Bestätigung gestellt. Die tracheobronchiale Amyloidose sollte bei der Differenzialdiagnose von Patienten mit chronischem Husten und/oder Dyspnoe oder wiederkehrenden Atemwegsinfektionen berücksichtigt werden.

Schlüsselwörter

tracheobronchiale Amyloidose - Differenzialdiagnose - radiologische und bronchoskopische Befunde

Keywords

tracheobronchial amyloidosis - differential diagnosis - radiographic and bronchoscopic findings

Publication History

Received: 19 November 2022

Accepted after revision: 04 January 2023

Article published online:
23 March 2023

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