RadioGraphics 2002; 22:5215-5230.
Prince JS, Duhamel DR, Levin DL, Harrell JH, Friedman PJ.
Nonneoplastic diseases of the central airways are uncommon but can be categorized as either focal or diffuse, although there is some overlap. Focal diseases include postintubation stenosis, postinfectious stenosis, posttransplantation stenosis, and various systemic diseases that may involve the airways and lead to focal stenosis (eg, Crohn disease, sar-coidosis, Behcet syndrome). Diffuse diseases of the central airways include Wegener granulomatosis, relapsing polychondritis, tracheobron-chopathia osteochondroplastica, amyloidosis, papillomatosis, and rhi-noscleroma. Conventional radiography is often the first step in the evaluation of suspected central airway disease and may be adequate in itself to identify the abnormality. However, computed tomography (CT) improves both the detection and characterization of central airway disease. Bronchoscopy remains the primary procedure for the diagnostic work-up of these disease entities. Nevertheless, a thorough radiologic evaluation with radiography and CT may demonstrate specific imaging findings (eg, calcification) that can help narrow the differential diagnosis and aid in the planning of bronchoscopy or therapeutic intervention.