Extrinsic airway compression: an unusual presentation of thoracic vertebral osteophytes from osteoarthritis.

Authors

Afra Al Balushi, Martin Ian MacDonald, Brendon Friesen

Published in

BMJ case reports. Volume 19. Issue 7. Jul 13, 2026. Epub Jul 13, 2026.

Abstract

Extrinsic airway compression secondary to vertebral osteophytes is a rare clinical entity. We report a case of an elderly patient presenting with pneumonia where a subsequent chest CT scan showed right main bronchus compression caused by lower thoracic vertebral osteoarthritis-related osteophytes. There were additional incidental findings of sclerotic skeletal lesions prompting a new diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer. The pneumonia improved with antibiotic therapy. Interventional management of airway compression was not pursued in this patient given his poor functional state and advanced metastatic malignancy. The patient was later readmitted with recurrent pneumonia as expected. Clinicians should be aware of this rare entity as a potential cause of airway compression identifiable on CT chest.

PMID:
42442853
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Jul 2026.

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