Chronic Cough Due to Tracheal Diverticulum

Abstract

Tracheal diverticulum (TD) is a rare benign condition characterised by invaginations of the tracheal wall resulting in paratracheal air cysts. Sixty nine years old female patient admitted to our clinic with chest pain, prolonged cough for 3 months and dyspnea. She had no smoking history. Physical examination, chest X-ray and pulmonary function test results were normal. Air filled lesion with 1 cm in dimension on right paratracheal area connected to tracheal lumen was determined on thorax computed tomography. Patient was diagnosed as TD. TD is usually located on the right wall of trachea as in our patient. Majority of patients are asymptomatic, however diverticulum can retain secretions and act as reservoir for secretions predisposing recurrent infections. TD incidence may be as high as 2%, although rarely reported in clinical practice and literature. Therefore, clinicians should keep in mind TD for patients presenting with chronic cough particularly if chest radiograph and spirometry are normal.