Acquired tracheobronchomalacia. A cineradiographic study with bronchologicl correlations.

Forty-seven patients in whom acquired tracheobronchomalacia had been diagnosed by bronchoscopy under local anaesthesia were examined by cineradiography. In the 36 cases subjected to rebrochoscopy the cineradiographic and bronchoscopic findings were compared. Tracheal malacia could be readily visualized by cineradiography without contrast medium, and the changes were seen to correspond to the bronchoscopic findings. Malacia was graded by cineradiography as mild in 17 (47%) moderate in 12 (33.5%) and severe in 7 (19.5%) and by bronchoscopy in 10 (28%), 15 (41.5%) and 11 (30.5%) cases respectively. Cineradiography without contrast medium proved to be an easy and quick examination which imposed little strain on the patient. It is thus very suitable as a primary examination, especially for patients in poor condition. When malacia at the bronchial level is suspected, bronchoscopy is advisable.