Tuberc Respir Dis.  2014 May;76(5):237-239. 10.4046/trd.2014.76.5.237.

Tracheobronchial Polyps Following Thermal Inhalation Injury

• Shin B
• Kim M
• Yoo H
• Kim SJ
• Lee JE
• Jeon K

• KMID: 1842970
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2014.76.5.237

Abstract

The early pulmonary consequences of inhalation injury are well documented; however, little is known about delayed pulmonary complications following thermal inhalation injury. Although thermal injury below the vocal cords is rare because of effective heat dissipation in the upper airway, inflammatory endobronchial polyps have previously been reported as a delayed complication associated with inhalation injury. We report an extraordinary case of tracheobronchial polyps in patients with smoke inhalation injury. This report shows the delayed development and natural course of tracheobronchial polyps following thermal injury.

Keyword

Burns, Inhalation; Polyps; Trachea; Bronchi

MeSH Terms

Bronchi
Burns, Inhalation
Hot Temperature
Humans
Inhalation*
Polyps*
Smoke Inhalation Injury
Trachea
Vocal Cords

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 A 21-year-old man with inhalation burn in the tracheobronchial wall. (A) Bronchoscopy showed edematous and hyperemic mucosal changes in the tracheobronchial wall at 2 weeks after the inhalation injury. (B) One month after the inhalation injury, numerous pale polypoid lesions were found in the tracheobronchial tree. (C) Three months after the initial injury, endobronchial polyposis had not changed, and background mucosa in the trachea appeared to be fibrotic in nature. (D) Six months after the initial injury, the lesions were slightly reduced with fibrotic change at the trachea, but an additional exophytic polyp was seen at the right side of the carina.

• 

  Figure 2 A 21-year-old man with inhalation burn in the tracheobronchial tree. Microscopic findings of the tracheobronchial polyps revealed granulomatous inflammation (A, H&E stain, ×100; B, H&E stain, ×200).

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