Endobronchial Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Tracheobronchial Stenosis From Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

A 49-year-old woman presented with continuous cough, progressive dyspnea on exertion, and hoarseness. She had a total colectomy for ulcerative colitis 17 years earlier. Bronchoscopy showed circumferential mucosal erythema. The surface of the tracheal mucosa was irregular and bled easily on contact. Endobronchial ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed characteristic findings that suggested that the lesion was located within the tracheal mucosa and submucosa. Endobronchial ultrasonography images showed circumferential thickening of the mucosa, but tracheobronchial cartilage was preserved intact. Moreover, the comparison between tracheal tissues from tracheostomy and colon tissues resected 17 years earlier showed similarities in pathologic findings. These findings suggested that inflammatory bowel disease can cause the tracheobronchial stenosis.