Tracheomalacia

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Lungs

• High-pitched breathing ( stridor) and rattling, noisy breaths
• Breathing problems that get worse with coughing, crying, feeding (in the case of infants) or upper respiratory infections
• Breathing noises that may change with position and improve during sleep

A doctor's examination confirms the symptoms. A chest x-ray may show narrowing of the trachea when exhaling. Even if the x-ray is normal, it is needed to rule out other problems.

A definitive diagnosis is obtained by laryngoscopy, which is performed by a otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT). This allows the airway anatomy to be seen and helps determine the extent of tracheomalacia.

Other tests that may be performed include airway fluoroscopy, barium swallow, bronchoscopy, lung function tests, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Review Date: 10/25/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, M.D., FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.