Tracheal diverticulum with decompensation after 8 years of conservative therapy requiring surgical solution

Abstract

Tracheal diverticulum is a benign cystic mass in the cervical and mediastinal regions, with an incidence of 1% in post-mortem findings, and 2% in CT findings. The lesion is in most cases completely asymptomatic and is most commonly incidentally detected during a CT examination. We present the case of a young female patient with a tracheal diverticulum who has been followed up for 8 years by pediatric pneumologist. Patient health state deteriorated and she developed stress-induced dyspnea requiring surgical resection. Moreover, we mention differential diagnosis of other mediastinal cystic lesions.

Case of a tracheal diverticulum causing airway obstruction

“…2 When symptomatic, the most common presentations are chronic cough, dyspnoea, stridor and/or recurrent tracheobronchitis 3. Few reports of exercised-induced dyspnoea secondary to this condition are found 4. TD is usually managed non-surgically, but surgical resection is pursued in cases involving young, symptomatic patients 5…”