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Tracheal Diverticulum: A Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Tracheal diverticulum is a rarely encountered entity. It may be congenital or acquired, the difference residing mainly in the histologic features of the wall. Most cases are asymptomatic, but when symptoms are present they are usually nonspecific. Congenital diverticulum is not normally detected in infancy unless it is suggested by recurrent episodes of tracheobronchial infection or in associated with other malformations. Imaging techniques are useful for diagnosis because the point of communication with the trachea is difficult to detect with bronchoscopy. In the absence of symptoms, management should be conservative. We review the entity and report two new cases, one a casual finding in a 49-year-old man and the other in a 63-year-old woman who presented with occasional bloody sputum.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ian Johnstone for the English language version of the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pneumology Service, Carlos Haya Hospital, Malaga, Spain

    Enrique Javier Soto-Hurtado, Laura Peñuela-Ruíz & Julio Torres-Jiménez

  2. Radiology Service, Carlos Haya Hospital, Malaga, Spain

    Ignacio Rivera-Sánchez

  3. Calle Albacete 10, 3C, 29010, Malaga, Spain

    Enrique Javier Soto-Hurtado

Authors
  1. Enrique Javier Soto-Hurtado
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  2. Laura Peñuela-Ruíz
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  3. Ignacio Rivera-Sánchez
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  4. Julio Torres-Jiménez
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Correspondence to Enrique Javier Soto-Hurtado.

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Soto-Hurtado, E.J., Peñuela-Ruíz, L., Rivera-Sánchez, I. et al. Tracheal Diverticulum: A Review of the Literature. Lung 184, 303–307 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-006-0010-7

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