Tracheobronchitis in a patient with Crohn's disease

Abstract

A 19-year-old Japanese man who had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD) suffered from dry cough and fever over 38 degrees C for three days prior to hospitalization. On admission, his colonic CD condition was stable, neither active nor in remission. Computed tomography of the chest showed small elevated tracheobronchial lesions. Bronchoscopy showed diffuse whitish granular lesions in the trachea and bronchi. The pathological findings in the biopsy showed inflammatory infiltration suggesting Crohn's tracheobronchitis. Thereafter, he was treated with inhaled Fluticasone propionate 400 microg/day. After one week his dry cough improved, and after two weeks bronchoscopic findings were improved.