Croup

  • Etiology: parainfluenza virus
  • Imaging: glottic + subglottic process
    — AP – loss of normal shoulders of subglottic trachea due to subglottic edema = (church) steeple sign
    — Lateral – hypopharynx distension, normal epiglottis/areyepiglottic folds, narrowing or loss of definition of subglottic trachea
  • Clinical: average age 12 months, most common cause acute upper airway obstruction in 6 months – 3 years, symptoms are barky cough due to vocal cord involvement / mild fever / shortness of breath, inspiratory stridor, no dysphagia

Cases of Croup

Radiographs of croup
AP + lateral radiographs of the airway show narrowing of the subglottic trachea (steeple sign) and overdistension of the hypopharynx.
Endoscopic image of croup
Series of endoscopic images of the airway show persistent narrowing of the subglottic trachea.