Clinical and computed tomographic features of tracheal bronchus in children

We retrospectively reviewed the records of all children who received bronchoscopic studies in our hospital from July 1994 through June 1998, to identify cases of tracheal bronchus. During the 4-year period, 462 children underwent a total of 492 bronchoscopic studies. Eleven (2.4%) of these children (9 boys, 2 girls, aged 1 mo to 11 yrs) had tracheal bronchus. Most of these patients underwent bronchoscopy because of respiratory difficulties, but the symptoms were not attributable to tracheal bronchus in 10 of the 11 children. Six out of the 11 patients had coexisting tracheobronchial stenosis. Bronchoscopy indicated high bifurcation of the carina in one patient, and direct coronal computed tomography demonstrated concomitant tracheal stenosis and tracheal bronchus. Most patients with tracheal bronchus can be treated conservatively. Correction of the underlying abnormalities is of paramount importance for the relief of respiratory symptoms.