Abstract
Pseudomembranous necrotizing tracheitis is a rare cause of life-threatening central airway obstruction. Patients present with hoarseness, cough, dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, and occasionally with respiratory failure. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, and should be confirmed with a comprehensive bronchoscopy and biopsy. For patients with signs and symptoms of airway obstruction, a therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy with mechanical debridement is recommended. We present a rare case of necrotizing tracheitis secondary to Corynebacterium species, which caused life-threatening airway obstruction in an adult.
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Adnan Majid MD, Division of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 185 Pilgrim Road, Deaconess 201, Boston MA 02215.
The authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.
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