Inflammatory stenosis is narrowing in a lumen or passageway caused by an inflammatory process. This term is used most commonly at our practice to refer to stenosis in the high trachea or subglottis, thought to be an incomplete expression (forme fruste) of Wegener’s granulomatosis.


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Rheumatoid arthritis (1 of 4)

Young woman diagnosed several years earlier with rheumatoid arthritis, but 8 months ago noted noisy breathing and exercise intolerance. This medium-range view shows inflammatory subglottic narrowing.

Inflammatory subglottic stenosis (2 of 4)

At closer range, this inflammatory subglottic stenosis is seen better.

One week after dilation (3 of 4)

A week after outpatient dilation, steroid injection, the patient’s symptoms are dramatically reduced. Adherent mucus makes the caliber look smaller than it is. Compare with photo 1.

Mucus (4 of 4)

At closer range, the lumen is much enlarged, especially if adherent mucus were not present ('M' stands for mucus). Compare with photo 2.