Radiolucent intratracheal foreign body mistaken for croup in a 9-year-old boy

B. Gyi, J. H. Austin and L. D. Eisenberg

Stridor was present for at least three months in a 9-year-old boy whose cervical trachea contained granulation tissue in association with a chronically enlodged plastic wheel, 1.8 cm in diameter. Roentgenograms revealed irregularly lobulated narrowing of the cervical trachea. Our clinical impression was croup until bronchoscopic examination led to removal of the toy. We could elicit no history of aspiration. Chronic stridor in association with a radiolucent intratracheal foreign body is unusual in the absence of a history of aspiration.