CT diagnosis of complete tracheal rings in an adult

We report a case of complete tracheal rings diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) in a 34-year-old woman with history of congenital heart disease who presented with long-standing shortness of breath and chest tightness. CT of the trachea revealed concentric narrowing of the distal trachea, with an "O"-shaped lumen and absence of wall thickening. Virtual endoscopic CT images showed concentric rings at the site of stenosis, consistent with complete tracheal rings, which were confirmed by conventional bronchoscopy. To our knowledge, the CT findings of this condition have not been previously described. CT with 3-dimensional reconstructions has the potential to noninvasively aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with this condition.