[Structural disorders of the human tracheal mucosa: incidence, sex distribution and topography].

The trachea in 148 patients investigated with respect to incidence and topographic properties of squamous metaplasia, basal-cell hyperplasia, and goblet-cell hyperplasia (randomized study including 88 men and 60 women). Each trachea was examined histologically at 41 defined locations. In men, the percentage of squamous metaplasia is 9.6%, of basal-cell hyperplasia 14.9%, and of goblet-cell hyperplasia 7.1% (all locations concerned without regard to topography). In women, the corresponding figures are only 4.2% (squamous metaplasia), 9.5% (basal-cell hyperplasia), and 3.9% (goblet-cell hyperplasia). The topographic centers of textural changes of the tracheal mucosa in both men and women are the same. The site of predilection of goblet-cell hyperplasia is the lower and the middle third of the trachea. The preferential areas of squamous metaplasia are the upper and the lower third of the trachea. Basal-cell hyperplasia is mostly seen in the upper third of the trachea close to the cricoid, as well as in the entire anterior and posterior walls of the remaining parts of the trachea.