Mounier-Kuhn syndrome (tracheobronchomegaly): An analysis of eleven cases.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mounier-Kuhn syndrome (MKS) is a congenital disorder characterized by tracheobronchomegaly resulting from the absence of elastic fibers in the trachea and main bronchi or atrophy and thinning of the smooth muscle layer. In this syndrome, dead space associated with tracheobronchomegaly increases and discharge of secretions decreases because of ineffective coughing. The most common complications are recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and bronchiectasis. We examined the clinical characteristics, radiological features, and related complications of patients with MKS. METHODS: The cases were obtained between September 2007 and November 2015. Computed tomography scans of the chest were used to diagnose tracheobronchomegaly. RESULTS: All cases (a total of 11) were males with a mean age of 63 ± 13 (range, 38-80) years. The mean diameter of the trachea was 31.53 ± 2.99 mm; the mean transverse diameter was 31.69 ± 3.10 mm and the mean sagittal diameter was 31.36 ± 3.01 mm. Complaints at the time of presentation included chronic cough, purulent sputum, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. There were recurrent pulmonary infections in seven cases, bronchiectasis in six, and tracheal diverticulum in four at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this article, 11 cases with various rarely seen complications are presented and evaluated in the light of current literature. We recommend that if chronic cough, recurrent pulmonary infections, and bronchiectasis seen in a patient, MKS should be kept in mind.

Traqueobroncomegalia: a propósito de un caso clínico-radiológico / Tracheobronchomegaly: a case report

Tracheobronchomegaly corresponds to the anomalous diffuse dilatation of the trachea and main bronchi, usually accompanied by bronchiectasis, which predisposes to recurrent infections. The imaging study is essential to recognize this entity. A case of a 40-year-old woman, with suspicion of bronchial asthma is presented. Imaging study and bronchofiberscopy confirmed the diagnosis of tracheobronchomegaly in this patient.

La traqueobroncomegalia corresponde a la dilatación anómala y difusa de la tráquea y bronquios principales, acompañado habitualmente de bronquiectasias, lo que predispone a infecciones recurrentes. El estudio radiológico resulta fundamental para reconocer esta entidad. Se presenta un caso de una mujer de 40 años en estudio por sospecha de asma bronquial en que el estudio de imágenes (Rx y TAC) y lafibrobroncoscopia confirmó el diagnóstico de traqueobroncomegalia.

Mounier-Kuhn syndrome.

Mounier-Kuhn syndrome or congenital tracheobronchomegaly is a rare clinical and radiologic condition. It is characterized by a tracheal and bronchial dilation. Fewer than 100 cases have been reported in the medical literature since the original description in 1932. The first utilization of bronchoscopy for diagnosis of this condition was recorded by Lemoine only in 1949. The cause of this condition is not clearly understood; however, histopathologic findings of atrophy of smooth muscles and elastic tissue in the trachea and main bronchi have been observed. Tracheobronchomegaly can be associated with tracheal and bronchial diverticuli.

[A case of tracheobronchomegaly].

We report a rare case of tracheobronchomegaly with crescent-type tracheobronchomalacia. A 77-year-old man with a chronic cough was referred to our hospital because of fever and dyspnea. Radiographic examination showed enlargement of the trachea and main bronchi. On chest radiography, the transverse diameter of the trachea was 31 mm, and consolidation shadows were seen in both upper lung fields. Tracheobronchomegaly with pneumonia was diagnosed. The pneumonia was improved by administration of PAPM/BP. On bronchoscopic examination, the trachea and main bronchi were extremely dilated on inspiration, and were collapsed on expiration. The biopsy specimen from the bronchial mucosa showed non-specific chronic inflammation.

[Tracheobronchomegaly associated with light chain deposition disease]. / Traqueobroncomegalia asociada a enfermedad por depósito de cadenas ligeras.

Tracheobronchomegaly, also known as Mounier-Kühn's Syndrome, is characterized by market dilation of the trachea and main bronchi and has been reported in association with several conditions, particularly connective tissue disease. The pathogenesis and clinical signs of light chain deposition disease are similar to those of light chain amyloidosis, in which these chains are deposited as amorphous material lacking the tinctorial features of the amyloid. We present a case involving both entities, an association that has not been previously reported, and we review the main characteristics of both diseases.

The association of tracheomegaly and bronchiectasis.

This study set out to determine the frequency of tracheomegaly in brochiectasis as judged by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) while determining whether the published normal tracheal dimensions derived from radiographic data can be used for CT diagnosis. Seventy-five consecutive adults referred for CT assessment of possible bronchiectasis were studied and compared with a control group of 75 adults being staged for lymphoma. The internal tracheal diameters at aortic arch level of the control group correspond with published radiographic data and using these measurements, 7/42 (17%) patients with bronchiectasis were found to have tracheomegaly, while two of the 33 'symptomatic' patients (i.e. those patients not found to have bronchiectasis) had tracheomegaly. Further analysis confirmed that the bronchiectatic group's tracheal dimensions were significantly different from those of the control group while the 'symptomatic' group are an overlap population. We conclude that tracheomegaly is a frequent finding in bronchiectasis.

Tracheobronchomegaly: an unusual presentation of a rare condition.

Tracheobronchomegaly is a rare cause of recurrent chest infections often with persistent, unproductive cough. A case is described which presented as a severe life threatening pneumonia in which the bronchoscopic, radiographic, and computed tomographic findings are given.

Tracheobronchomegaly--the Mounier-Kuhn syndrome: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Tracheobronchomegaly (TBM) is a rare disorder of uncertain aetiology, characterized by marked dilatation of the trachea and main bronchi, bronchiectasis and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections. Two patients with TBM are presented. In one case, a marked decrease of elastic and smooth muscle tissue was present in the bronchial biopsy specimens, obtained by rigid bronchoscopy. The airways of the second patient were visualized using computed tomography. The dimensions of the airways of our patients are compared with the normal values supplied in the literature.

Congenital tracheobronchomegaly (Mounier-Kuhn syndrome): a report of 10 cases and review of the literature.

Mounier-Kuhn syndrome is a congenital abnormality of the trachea and main bronchi characterized by atrophy or absence of elastic fibers and thinning of muscle, which allows the trachea and main bronchi to become flaccid and markedly dilated on inspiration with narrowing or collapse on expiration or cough. The abnormal airway dynamics and pooling of secretions in broad outpouchings of redundant musculomembranous tissue between the cartilaginous rings predispose to the development of chronic pulmonary suppuration, bronchiectasis, emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis. A broad spectrum of clinical abnormalities has been documented in Mounier-Kuhn syndrome, ranging from minimal disease with good preservation of pulmonary function to progressive disease leading to respiratory failure and death. In the appropriate clinical setting, Mounier-Kuhn syndrome is diagnosed in women from chest radiographs when the transverse and sagittal diameters of the trachea exceed 21 mm and 23 mm, respectively, and when the transverse diameters of the right and left main bronchi exceed 19.8 mm and 17.4 mm, respectively. In men it is diagnosed when the transverse and sagittal diameters of the trachea exceed 25 mm and 27 mm, respectively, and when the transverse diameters of the right and left main bronchi exceed 21.1 mm and 18.4 mm, respectively. The diagnosis can be confirmed easily by computed tomography.