Author Correction: Evaluating physician concordance in interpretation of tracheobronchomalacia diagnosis and phenotyping using dynamic expiratory chest computed tomography

Correction to: Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86725-1, published online 25 January 2025

The original version of this Article contained errors.

As the result of the error during the figure processing in Figure 1, panel (B) was a duplication of panel (A). Consequently, Figure 1 legend was incorrect,

“Phenotypes of tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) based on paired inspiratory and expiratory images and percentage of luminal reduction. (A) Normal trachea and dynamic airway collapse. (B) Excessive dynamic airway collapse and crescent type airway collapse. (C) Circunferential airway collapse and saber-sheath airway collapse. No TBM is characterized by physiological dynamic airway collapse with less than 50% luminal reduction (A) Excessive Dynamic Airway Collapse (EDAC) is defined by a cross-sectional reduction in airway area of 50% or more during dynamic expiratory maneuvers, with morphologic preservation of the anterior “C” cartilage (B) Crescent Type features presumed softening of the anterior cartilaginous wall, leading to splaying and excessive narrowing of the airway lumen by 50% or more (B) Circumferential Type involves airway collapse of 50% or more affecting both the anterior and lateral cartilaginous walls, accompanied by wall thickening (C). Saber-Sheath Type is characterized by softening of the lateral walls forming an “A” shape, with expiratory airway narrowing of 50% or greater (C) Note that the Saber-Sheath Type image provided is an example of the pathology but is not a representative image of any patient included in the study.”

now reads:

“Phenotypes of Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) Based on Paired Inspiratory and Expiratory Images and Percentage of Luminal Reduction. No TBM is characterized by physiological dynamic airway collapse with less than 50% luminal reduction (A). Excessive Dynamic Airway Collapse (EDAC) is defined by a cross-sectional reduction in airway area of 50% or more during dynamic expiratory manoeuvres, with morphologic preservation of the anterior "C" cartilage (B). Crescent Type features presumed softening of the anterior cartilaginous wall, leading to splaying and excessive narrowing of the airway lumen by 50% or more (B). Circumferential Type involves airway collapse of 50% or more affecting both the anterior and lateral cartilaginous walls, accompanied by wall thickening (C). Saber-Sheath Type is characterized by softening of the lateral walls forming an "A" shape, with expiratory airway narrowing of 50% or greater (C). Note that the Saber-Sheath Type image provided is an example of the pathology but is not a representative image of any patient included in the study.”

The original Figure 1 and accompanying legend appear below.

Fig. 1

Phenotypes of tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) based on paired inspiratory and expiratory images and percentage of luminal reduction. (A) Normal trachea and dynamic airway collapse. (B) Excessive dynamic airway collapse and crescent type airway collapse. (C) Circunferential airway collapse and saber-sheath airway collapse. No TBM is characterized by physiological dynamic airway collapse with less than 50% luminal reduction (A) Excessive Dynamic Airway Collapse (EDAC) is defined by a cross-sectional reduction in airway area of 50% or more during dynamic expiratory maneuvers, with morphologic preservation of the anterior “C” cartilage (B) Crescent Type features presumed softening of the anterior cartilaginous wall, leading to splaying and excessive narrowing of the airway lumen by 50% or more (B) Circumferential Type involves airway collapse of 50% or more affecting both the anterior and lateral cartilaginous walls, accompanied by wall thickening (C). Saber-Sheath Type is characterized by softening of the lateral walls forming an “A” shape, with expiratory airway narrowing of 50% or greater (C) Note that the Saber-Sheath Type image provided is an example of the pathology but is not a representative image of any patient included in the study.

Additionally, this Article contained an error in the paragraph in the Discussion section,

“Our findings contrast with the interobserver variability reported by Katz and Moore¹⁵, who identified significant variability among specialists assessing TBM using dynamic CT imaging.”

now reads:

“Our findings contrast with the interobserver variability reported by Mitropoulos et al¹⁵, who identified significant variability among specialists assessing TBM using dynamic CT imaging, magnetic resonance imaging or flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy.”

Further, the article contained errors in References. As a result, in the Discussion section,

“In our cohort, 36% of patients were diagnosed with TBM or EDAC, a prevalence rate consistent with earlier reports^13,16.”

now reads:

“In our cohort, 36% of patients were diagnosed with TBM or EDAC, a prevalence rate consistent with earlier reports^13-16.”

“Conversely, our high level of concordance in differentiating between patients with and without TBM aligns with findings from another study¹⁴, which demonstrates strong diagnostic reliability across various centers and experts.”

now reads:

“Conversely, our high level of concordance in differentiating between patients with and without TBM aligns with findings from other reports^14-15, which demonstrates variable diagnostic reliability across various centers and experts.”

Finally, the Article contained errors in the Reference list, where References 13–22 were incorrect due to the corrupted file,

• 13. Lee, J. H., Koo, H. J. & Cho, J. M. Diagnostic accuracy of dynamic expiratory CT for tracheobronchomalacia: comparison of radiological and bronchoscopic findings. Eur. Radiol. 31 (7), 5474–5481 (2021).

• 14. Morris, J. B. & Salazar, R. Variability in tracheobronchomalacia diagnosis: a multicenter study of imaging modalities. J. Thorac. Imaging 35 (5), 334–340 (2020).

• 15. Katz, R. & Moore, T. Interobserver variability in the assessment of tracheobronchomalacia on dynamic CT imaging. Chest 155 (4), 763–769 (2019).

• 16. Patel, M. & Sethi, J. Diagnostic consistency and variability in TBM: a comprehensive review of imaging techniques. Respir. Med. 192, 106–113 (2022).

• 17. Santos, L. L. & Campos, G. M. Comparison of diagnostic approaches for tracheobronchomalacia: insights from dynamic expiratory CT and endoscopy. J. Clin. Radiol. 78 (2), 144–150 (2023).

• 18. Wright, J. L. & Churg, A. The pathology of tracheobronchomalacia. Thorax 59 (3), 233–239 (2004).

• 19. Lichtenberger, L. M. & Hsu, Y. H. Mechanisms of airway collapse in tracheobronchomalacia. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 182 (8), 1128–1137 (2010).

• 20. Saetta, M. & Mariani, M. Pathology of tracheobronchomalacia and its clinical implications. Eur. Respir J. 27 (6), 1354–1362 (2006).

• 21. Rochester, C. L. & Dales, R. E. Saber sheath trachea: a rare manifestation of COPD. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 158 (6), 1953–1954 (1998).

• 22. Kim, D. H. & Lee, J. H. Saber-sheath trachea: a radiologic marker for COPD severity. Eur. Respir J. 56 (6), 1901387 (2020).

now read:

• 13. Lee, K. S. et al. Comparison of dynamic expiratory CT with bronchoscopy for diagnosing airway malacia: A pilot evaluation. Chest 131(3), 758–764. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.06-2164n (2007).

• 14. Burg, G., Hossain, M. M., Wood, R. & Hysinger, E. B. Evaluation of agreement on presence and severity of tracheobronchomalacia by dynamic flexible bronchoscopy. Ann. Am. Thorac. Soc. 18(10), 1749–1752. https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202009-1142RL (2021).

• 15. Mitropoulos, A. et al. Detection and diagnosis of large airway collapse: a systematic review. ERJ Open Res. 7(3), 00055–2021. https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00055-2021 (2021).

• 16. Bischoff, A. et al. Low-dose whole-chest dynamic CT for the assessment of large airway collapsibility in patients with suspectedtracheobronchial instability. Radiol. Cardiothorac Imaging 6(5), e240041. https://doi.org/10.1148/ryct.240041 (2024).

• 17. Biswas, A., Jantz, M. A., Sriram, P. S. & Mehta, H. J. Tracheobronchomalacia. Dis. Mon. 63(10), 287–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2017.04.003(2017).

• 18. Singh, R. et al. Pilot gene expression andhistopathologic analysis of tracheal resections in tracheobronchomalacia. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 114(5), 1925–1932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2021.08.022 (2022).

• 19. Carden, K. A., Boiselle, P. M., Waltz, D. A. & Ernst, A. Tracheomalacia and tracheobronchomalacia in children and adults: an in-depth review. Chest 127(3), 984–1005. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.127.3.984 (2005).

• 20. Uyar, M. et al. Tracheobronchomalacia as a rare cause of chronic dyspnea inadults. Med. Princ. Pract. 26(2), 179–181. https://doi.org/10.1159/000455858 (2017).

• 21. Chetambath, R. Tracheobronchomalacia in obstructive airway diseases. Lung India 33(4), 451–452. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-2113.184929 (2016).

• 22. Ciccarese, F. et al. Saber-sheath trachea as a marker ofsevere airflow obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Radiol. Med. 119(2), 90–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-013-0318-3 (2014).

The original Article has been corrected.