Tracheobronchomegaly (Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome) in Old Age - A Case Report

Abstract

Tracheobronchomegaly or Mounier-Kuhn syndrome is a rare condition affecting the airways and is characterized by dilatation of the trachea and major bronchi secondary to atrophic or absent elastic fibres of the cartilage and thinning of the muscles.[1] The abnormally enlarged flaccid portions of the bronchial tree collapse and fail to maintain patency during expiration and coughing, predisposing the patient to stagnation of contents and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections, emphysema, bronchiectasis and chronic pulmonary suppuration.[2] The diagnosis is usually made on basis of specific radiographic features,[3] particularly on computed tomography (CT) scan. We report a case of a 69-year-old man who presented with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and was found to have tracheobronchomegaly as an underlying primary airway abnormality on imaging and bronchoscopy that was initially undiagnosed.