Tracheal growth in congenital tracheal stenosis.

Two cases of congenital tracheal stenosis were managed conservatively despite mild to moderate initial respiratory symptomatology in infancy. Serial CT examinations were performed on each child, with tracheal dimensions and cross-sectional areas measured in the region of stenosis at each CT examination. The examinations document increases in tracheal cross-sectional area in the region of stenosis over time, confirming tracheal cartilage growth. We present these data to dispel the hypothesis that tracheal growth does not occur in complete-ring tracheal stenosis. The selection of cases for surgical repair must be considered with the knowledge that this anomaly does not carry an inevitably poor prognosis.