Li Zhenhua, Yang Zhen, Niu Yiran, Lei Yan, Ni Jixiang, Wang Rujuan, Wen Fangjing
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Sep 9;12:1676083. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1676083. eCollection 2025.
Tracheobronchomegaly (TBM) is a rare condition characterized by abnormal dilation of the trachea and main bronchi owing to a pathological arrangement of smooth muscle fibers. Early identification and intervention are vital to halting progressive lung damage and improving the quality of life. This study aimed to examine the clinical characteristics, radiological features, and related complications in patients with TBM.
11 TBM cases were retrospectively identified through a review of chest computed tomography (CT) scans at our hospital between January 2018 and July 2025. We collected sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 10 patients, and their clinical, radiological, and pulmonary function data were systematically collected and analyzed to assess disease characteristics and complications.
All 11 patients were male (mean age 79.2 ± 9.1 years). The main symptoms included recurrent infections, hemoptysis, productive cough, and dyspnea. The mean tracheal diameter was 32.4 [interquartile range (IQR):31.4-45.8]mm. Diverticula were present in four cases (36.4%, = 4). Complications included bronchiectasis (45.5%, = 5), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (36.4%, = 4), respiratory failure (9.1%, = 1), tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (9.1%, = 1), and interstitial lung disease (9.1%, = 1). Pulmonary function tests revealed obstructive (36.4%, = 4), restrictive (27.3%, = 3), and mixed (9.1%, = 1) patterns. One patient died of respiratory failure.
In this study, 11 cases involving a variety complications were analyzed in light of the current literature. TBM should be considered in patients who present with chronic cough, recurrent pulmonary infections, and bronchiectasis.
气管支气管巨大症（TBM）是一种罕见疾病，其特征是由于平滑肌纤维的病理排列导致气管和主支气管异常扩张。早期识别和干预对于阻止进行性肺损伤和提高生活质量至关重要。本研究旨在探讨TBM患者的临床特征、影像学特征及相关并发症。
通过回顾我院2018年1月至2025年7月期间的胸部计算机断层扫描（CT），回顾性确定了11例TBM病例。我们从10例患者中收集了痰液或支气管肺泡灌洗液，并系统收集和分析了他们的临床、影像学和肺功能数据，以评估疾病特征和并发症。
11例患者均为男性（平均年龄79.2±9.1岁）。主要症状包括反复感染、咯血、咳痰和呼吸困难。平均气管直径为32.4[四分位间距（IQR）：31.4 - 45.8]mm。4例（36.4%，n = 4）存在憩室。并发症包括支气管扩张（45.5%，n = 5）、慢性阻塞性肺疾病（36.4%，n = 4）、呼吸衰竭（9.1%，n = 1）、骨软骨性气管支气管病（9.1%，n = 1）和间质性肺疾病（9.1%，n = 1）。肺功能测试显示为阻塞性（36.4%，n = 4）、限制性（27.3%，n = 3）和混合性（9.1%，n = 1）模式。1例患者死于呼吸衰竭。
本研究结合当前文献分析了11例涉及多种并发症的病例。对于出现慢性咳嗽、反复肺部感染和支气管扩张的患者，应考虑TBM。
