CTICasesAcute Infectious Tracheitis
Imaging findings
CT shows diffuse, circumferential thickening of the trachea extending into the mainstem bronchi and out to the periphery. Bronchoscopic correlation reveals marked mucosal erythema and widespread patchy, nodular white exudates and plaques along the tracheal mucosa.
Key takeaways
Acute infectious tracheitis can manifest as diffuse circumferential tracheal thickening on CT, which may mimic systemic diseases like amyloidosis or relapsing polychondritis. Bronchoscopy with mucosal biopsy/culture is essential for differentiating infectious etiologies (which can be bacterial or fungal, such as cryptococcus or aspergillus in immunocompromised patients) from non-infectious airway pathology.
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