Tracheobronchomalacia or TBM is a condition characterized by flaccidity of the tracheal support cartilage which leads to tracheal collapse. This condition can also affect the bronchi. There are two forms of this condition: primary TBM and secondary TBM. Primary TBM is congenital and starts as early as birth. It is mainly linked to genetic causes. Secondary TBM is acquired and starts in adulthood. It is mainly developed after an accident or chronic inflammation.Tracheobronchomalacia may also occur in people who have normal cartliginous structure of the trachea, but significant atrophy of the posterior wall, causing significant invagination of the trachea on expiration. In these cases it is more commonly known as Excessive Dynamic Airway Collapse (EDAC). Signs and symptoms
Initially TBM may be asymptomatic or some patients do not experience symptoms at all. In a progressive TBM case symptoms include:

shortness of breath
a cough
mucus build up
stridor (a wheeze-like sound on breathing out)
difficulty in breathing
bluish coloration to skin around the nose and mouth
Chronic coughSymptoms may become worse if the patient is stressed, sick, lying down, or forcing a cough. Cause
Congenital TBM is present from birth. Acquired TBM often has no clear cause but is frequently found together with other pulmonary diseases like asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as Gastroesophageal reflux disease. TBM can be caused by damage to the support cartilage or membranous wall of the trachea, this can be the result of physical trauma (such as from prolonged Tracheal intubation) or pathological changes caused by inflammatory diseases like Relapsing polychondritis.
Tract may refer to:

Geography and real estate
Housing tract, an area of land that is subdivided into smaller individual lots
Land lot or tract, a section of land
Census tract, a geographic region defined for the purpose of taking a census

Writings
Tract (literature), a short written work, usually of a political or religious nature
Tract (liturgy), a component of Roman Catholic liturgy
Treatise

Biology
Nerve tract, a bundle of fibers that connects different parts of the central nervous system - analogous to a nerve in the peripheral nervous system
A genetic tract, a sequence of repeating nucleotides or amino acids, such as a polyglutamine tract
A collection of related anatomic structures, such as:
Gastrointestinal tract
Genitourinary tract
Reproductive tract
A grouping of feathers, e.g. primaries, auricular, scapular

Businesses
Tract (imprint), an imprint of the German group VDM Publishing devoted to the reproduction of Wikipedia content

See also

Track (disambiguation)

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