Skip to main content
Article
Symptomatic Improvement in Cicatricial Pemphigoid of the Trachea Achieved with Laser Ablation Bronchoscopy
Internal Medicine
  • Elizabeth Benge, HCA Healthcare
  • Vincent Tran, HCA Healthcare
  • Nazanin Sheikhan, HCA Healthcare
  • Sapna Bhatia, HCA Healthcare
  • Yi McWhorter, HCA Healthcare
  • John Collier
  • Arnold Chung, HCA Healthcare
Division
Far West
Hospital
MountainView Hospital
Document Type
Case Report
Publication Date
1-18-2022
Keywords
  • cicatricial pemphigoid,
  • benign mucous membrane pemphigoid,
  • laser ablation
Abstract

Cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) with tracheal involvement is a rare and potentially deadly condition. Here, we report the first case in which Nd:YAG laser (1064nm) laser ablation bronchoscopy was used to treat CP with tracheal involvement. Our patient is a 71-year-old male with a history of CP refractory to medical therapy affecting his trachea who presented to the emergency department with dyspnea. He ultimately underwent bronchoscopy with Nd: YAG laser (1064nm) laser ablation, which resulted in a temporary alleviation of his respiratory symptoms. A repeat laser ablation was planned in hopes of prolonging the patient’s remission, but due to interval changes in the patient’s airway anatomy, it was deemed unsafe. While our patient’s uniquely advanced disease was not amenable to further laser-mediated intervention, it is possible that patients with less advanced disease may experience better outcomes with similar therapy. This case shows the promise laser ablation could hold for patients with tracheal cicatricial pemphigoid.

Publisher or Conference
Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care
Citation Information
Benge E, Tran V, Sheikhan N, Bhatia S, McWhorter Y, Collier J, Chung A. Symptomatic Improvement in Cicatricial Pemphigoid of the Trachea Achieved with Laser Ablation Bronchoscopy. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2022;24(1):8-11. doi: 10.13175/swjpcc058-21