Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica.

6 cases of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica are discussed. Diagnoses were established ante mortem. Endoscopic examination was performed in 3 patients because of hematic expectoration, in the other 3 cases the induction was given by chronic bronchorhea, slow-resolving pneumonia and suspected neoplasia, respectively. Calcification and cartilaginous areas were restricted to a small portion of the tracheobronchial tree in 1 of the cases; in 3 cases the disease affected the trachea and both main bronchi, whereas it was found markedly spread throughout the trachea in the last 2 patients. Tracheal tomography and bronchoscopic examination are considered the methods of choice for an ante mortem diagnosis of this disease.