Recurrent dyspnea and wheezing- pulmonary function test and dynamic computed tomography may unfold the diagnosis of tracheobronchomalacia

Abstract

Tracheomalacia patients often present with nonspecific symptoms like cough, wheezing and dyspnea. Tracheomalacia diagnosis is usually attributed to alternative common conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease. Certain maneuvers, like forced expiration, or recumbent position may elicit subtle signs of tracheomalacia. Ordering novel pulmonary function testing in sitting upright and supine positions may provide additional clues to suspect tracheomalacia, which can be confirmed by either dynamic chest tomography or bronchoscopy.

Keywords

• Asthma
• chronic obstructive lung disease
• positional dyspnea
• tracheomalacia
• pulmonary function test
• dynamic chest tomography
• bronchoscopy