Presentación atípica de tumor glómico en vía aérea: reporte de caso y revisión de literatura / Atypical presentation of glomus tumor in the airway: Case report and literature review

Introducción. Los tumores glómicos provienen de los cuerpos glómicos, que son estructuras con función de termorregulación y se encuentran distribuidas por todo el cuerpo humano, principalmente a nivel distal de las extremidades, donde es común encontrar lesiones características, aunque hay reportes de casos que se presentaron como neoformación en localizaciones más inusuales. Su etiología aun es desconocida. No se sospechan en muchos pacientes y el diagnostico se realiza de manera incidental, por estudios imagenológicos o anatomopatológicos. Caso clínico. Paciente femenina de 66 años, con presencia de tumor glómico en vía aérea, diagnosticado por histopatología e inmunohistoquímica, que fue sometido a resección quirúrgica, con buena evolución posterior. Discusión. Esta presentación atípica de tumor glómico en vía aérea se manifiesta principalmente con síntomas y signos relacionados con obstrucción de la vía aérea. El manejo oportuno es primordial y el diagnóstico definitivo es por histopatología e inmunohistoquímica, donde se observan las características de las células glómicas, estructuras vasculares, músculo liso y la positividad en la inmunotinción de marcadores como actina del músculo liso, CD34, y actina específica del músculo, entre otras. Conclusión. Los tumores glómicos son neoformaciones benignas raras, con presentación más común en zonas distales. Su aparición depende de factores intrínsecos y extrínsecos de los pacientes. Su tasa de recidiva es muy baja en comparación de otros tumores

Introduction. Glomus tumors originate from glomus bodies, which are structures with thermoregulatory function and are distributed throughout the human body, mainly at the distal level of the extremities where it is common to find these characteristic lesions. Although, there are case reports of neoformation presentations with more unusual locations. Their etiology is still unknown. Many times when there is evidence of lesions in atypical areas they are not suspected in many patients and the diagnosis is made incidentally by imaging and/or anatomopathological studies. Clinical case. A 66-year-old female patient with the presence of a glomus tumor in the airway diagnosed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry, underwent surgical resection and presented good evolution after surgery. Discussion. This atypical presentation of glomus tumor in the airway presents mainly with symptoms and signs related to airway obstruction. Timely management is paramount in these patients, and the definitive diagnosis is by histopathology and immunohistochemistry where the presence of the characteristics of glomus cells, vascular structures, smooth muscle and immunostaining positivity towards some markers such as smooth muscle actin, CD34, muscle specific actin, among others, are seen. Conclusion. This type of tumors are rare benign neoformations, with common presentations in distal areas. Their appearance depends on intrinsic and extrinsic factors of the patients and their recurrence rate is very low compared to other tumors

Compromiso tumoral de vía aérea en pediatría / Pediatric airway compromise by tumors

Los tumores traqueo bronquiales son extremadamente infrecuentes en la edad pediátrica e incluyen lesiones benignas y malignas. Por la baja frecuencia en niños y sintomatología respiratoria inespecífica, la sospecha diagnostica es habitualmente tardía. El tratamiento de elección en la mayoría de ellos es la resección quirúrgica abierta, sin embargo, la remoción endoscopia podría estar indicada es casos muy seleccionados con histología benigna y de localización accesible.

Tracheobronchial tumors are extremely rare in children and include benign and malignant lesions. Due to the low frequency in children and nonspecific respiratory symptoms, diagnostic suspicion is usually late. The treatment of choice in most of them is open surgical resection, however, endoscopy removal could be indicated in highly selected cases with benign histology and accessible location.

Radioterapia definitiva en el carcinoma adenoide quístico de la tráquea. A propósito de un caso / Definitive radiotherapy in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea. A case report

Los carcinomas adenoides quísticos son tumores extremadamente raros, para los cuales la cirugía es el pilar terapéutico; sin embargo, el abordaje quirúrgico puede estar contraindicado en función del tamaño tumoral, el compromiso de estructuras adyacentes o enfermedades concurrentes. En estos casos, la radioterapia externa definitiva puede ofrecer un adecuado control tumoral y alivio de síntomas. El presente reporte de caso describe un paciente con un tumor irregular que rodea la circunferencia de la tráquea, el cual genera disminución de la luz traqueal, en quién se decidió realizar una reducción de volumen de la lesión tumoral con argón plasma, seguido de colocación de un stent en Y (traqueal, bronquial izquierdo y bronquial derecho) y, posteriormente, realizar un tratamiento definitivo con radioterapia externa con técnica de intensidad modulada a dosis de 60 Gy en fraccionamiento de 2 Gy. Tres meses después del tratamiento, el paciente se presenta sin evidencia radiológica de adenopatías en la base del cuello o axila, con un stent endotraqueal permeable, sin estenosis y con una disminución del volumen tumoral, por lo que fue posible el retiro del stent.

Adenoid cystic carcinomas are extremely rare tumors, for which surgery is the mainstay of therapy; however, the surgical approach may be contradictory depending on tumor size, involvement of adjacent structures or concurrent diseases. In these cases, definitive external beam radiation therapy can offer adequate tumor control and symptom relief. The present case report describes a patient with an irregular tumor that surrounds the circumference of the trachea, causing a decrease in the tracheal lumen, in whom it was decided to perform a volume reduction of tumor with argon plasma, followed by placement of a Y-stent (tracheal, left bronchial and right bronchial), and subsequent definitive treatment with external radiotherapy with intensity modulated technique at doses of 60 Gy in 2 Gy fractionation. Three months after treatment, the patient presents without radiological evidence of lymphadenopathy at the base of the neck or axilla, with a patent endotracheal stent, with no stenosis and a decrease in tumor volume, for which the removal of the Stent was feasilble.

The role of endoscopic ultrasound in the staging of tracheal neoplasm: a brief review

SUMMARY Our case report shows the complexity of dealing with tracheal tumors, highlighting the importance of the method used for staging. In this report, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was crucial to identify the involvement of the esophageal muscular propria in a tracheal tumor and change the surgical planning of the case. Staging this kind of tumor represents a challenge for physicians. There is no evidence in the literature on which methods represent the gold standard for T staging.

RESUMO Neste relato de caso mostramos a complexidade em lidar com tumores traqueais, destacando a importância do método usado para estadiamento. Neste relato, a ecoendoscopia (EUS) foi fundamental para identificar o envolvimento da camada muscular própria esofágica por um tumor traqueal e alterar o planejamento cirúrgico do caso. O estadiamento desse tipo de tumor representa um desafio para os médicos. Não há evidências na literatura sobre quais métodos representam o padrão ouro para o estadiamento T.

Application of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery in Interventional Treatment of Tracheal Malignant Tumor / 中国肺癌杂志

Currently, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been widely accepted by surgery and anesthesiology all over the world, and applied in colorectal surgery, gynecology, liver surgery, breast surgery, urology and spinal surgery. But ERAS are rarely used in the field of interventional bronchoscopy. In recent years, more and more researchers have begun to explore the application of ERAS in bronchoscopic interventional therapy. This article discussed that preoperative preparation, anesthesia, intraoperative operation, postoperative observation and other aspects can influence interventional bronchoscopy.
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Resección de tumor traqueal / Tracheal tumor resection

Introducción: Los tumores primitivos de la tráquea son infrecuentes. Objetivo: Presentar la evolución de un paciente para resección de un tumor traqueal que ocluía el 95 por ciento de su luz. Caso Clínico: Disnea con tiraje supraesternal. No tolera el decúbito supino, presencia de tos y expectoración. Se le administró anestesia general endotraqueal convencional. Intubación con tubo No. 8. Se colocó en decúbito lateral izquierdo. Se procedió a realizar toracotomía. Con la tráquea abierta, el cirujano intubó el bronquio izquierdo con tubo No. 7. Se aspiraron secreciones, descendió la saturación de oxígeno. Se colocó sonda de levine en el pulmón derecho para oxigenación apneica con lo cual mejoró la saturación. En el pulmón ventilado se aplicó presión positiva al final de la espiración de 3 cm de agua con una fracción inspirada de oxígeno de 1. Luego de cerrada la pared posterior de la tráquea, se pasó una sonda nasogástrica a través del tubo colocado por vía orotraqueal. El cirujano fijó el extremo distal con una pinza. Se retiró el tubo orotraqueal inicial y se colocó un tubo 5.5 para intubar selectivamente el bronquio izquierdo por la boca y terminar la sutura de la tráquea y ambos bronquios. Terminado el procedimiento, se retiró el tubo y se ventilaron ambos pulmones. Conclusiones: La cirugía de tráquea impone un gran reto al anestesiólogo y al cirujano actuante, por lo que resultan imprescindibles las buenas relaciones del equipo de trabajo(AU)

Introduction: Primitive tumors of the trachea are rare. Objective: To present the evolution of a patient for removal of a tracheal tumor that occluded 95 percent of its light. Clinical case: Dyspnea with suprasternal retractions. No tolerance of supine decubitus, presence of cough and expectoration. The patient was administered conventional endotracheal general anesthesia. Intubation with tube number 8. The patient was placed in the left lateral decubitus position. A thoracotomy was performed. With the trachea open, the surgeon intubated the left bronchus with tube number 7. Secretions were aspirated, oxygen saturation decreased. A Levine tube was placed in the right lung for apneic oxygenation, which improved the saturation. In the ventilated lung, positive pressure was applied at the end of the expiration of 3 cm of water with an inspired fraction of oxygen of 1. After closing the posterior wall of the trachea, a nasogastric tube was passed through the tube placed via the orotracheal approach. The surgeon fixed the distal end with a clamp. The initial orotracheal tube was removed and a 5.5 tube was placed to intubate the left bronchus selectively through the mouth and complete the suture of the trachea and both bronchi. After the procedure, the tube was removed and both lungs were ventilated. Conclusions: The trachea surgery represents a great challenge for the anesthesiologist and the surgeon, a reason why good team working relations are essential(AU)

Tracheal pleomorphic adenoma with coexisting pulmonary tuberculoma / 영남의대학술지

Tracheal tumors are rare and difficult to diagnose. Moreover, delays in diagnosis are very common because the symptoms are nonspecific. As a result, tracheal tumors are commonly mistreated as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchial asthma. We report a case of a 49-year-old male who presented with a 3-month history of dyspnea and cough. Chest computed tomography scan showed a 1.5×1.3 cm homogenous tumor originating from the right lateral wall of the tracheobronchial angle into the tracheal lumen as well as a 0.5×0.4 cm round nodular lesion at the right upper lobe with multiple mediastinal lymph nodes enlargement. Bronchoscopic findings revealed a broad-based, polypoid lesion nearly obstructing the airway of the right main bronchus. The patient was diagnosed with pleomorphic adenoma which is the most common benign tumor of the salivary glands, but rarely appears in the trachea. Upon surgery, tracheal pleomorphic adenoma and co-existing active pulmonary tuberculoma that had been mistreated as bronchial asthma over 3 months was revealed. Following surgery, the patient underwent anti-tuberculosis treatment. No recurrence has been detected in the 3 years since treatment and the patient is now asymptomatic.

Carcinoma papilar primario derivado de tejido tiroideo ectópico en tráquea / Primary papillary carcinoma originating in tracheal ectopic thyroid tissue

El carcinoma tiroideo originado en tejido tiroideo ectópico es una entidad clínica poco común; son lesiones que se presentan generalmente como una masa en la línea media, que se desarrolla a partir de un remanente del conducto tirogloso. El hallazgo de una lesión maligna en un verdadero tejido tiroideo aberrante es inusual. Ante su poca frecuencia, se presenta el caso de una paciente en quien se diagnosticó un carcinoma papilar primario derivado de tejido tiroideo ectópico en tráquea.

Thyroid carcinoma arising from an ectopic thyroid tissue is an uncommon clinical entity. These lesions usually present as a mass in the midline that develops from a thyroglossal duct remainder. The finding of a malignant lesion in true aberrant thyroid tissue is unusual. Given the strangeness of this condition we present the case of a patient in which the diagnosis conducted a primary papillary carcinoma arising from ectopic thyroid tissue in the trachea.

A clinical review of 3 cases of children with bronchial tumor / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics of bronchial tumors in 3 children to improve the diagnosis of pediatric bronchial tumor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three cases of children bronchial malignant tumors diagnosed by rigid bronchoscopy were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 3 children were males, aged from 6 to 10 years old, and presented with cough, sputum, and fever symptoms for 1 day to 3 months. Chest CT scan and airway remodeling examinations indicated the children's main bronchi were blocked and then the diagnoses of bronchial foreign bodies were made. However bronchial tumors were found in the 3 children by rigid bronchoscopy and were determined as mucoepidermoid carcinoma, large cell lung carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype, and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Children with bronchial tumor often present with cough, wheezing and other respiratory symptoms that are not specific to bronchial tumor. When a child complaint of repeated cough and wheezing symptoms with unknown cause, not only bronchial foreign body and also bronchial tumor should be considered.</p>

An Uncommon Primary Tracheal Tumor Masquerading as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Diagnosed at Autopsy.

Primary tracheal tumors are rare neoplasms and often are hard to diagnose early due to the non-specific clinical presentations. Prolonged symptomatic treatment for these can often lead to missing out the diagnosis and can prove fatal. A 35-year-old male presented with gradually increasing breathlessness and dysphagia to solids and was being treated with bronchodilators and antibiotics. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an intratracheal mass in the lower part of the trachea and the patient was referred to our institution in view of a primary tracheal tumor where he expired within 10 min of admission. On autopsy, the gross findings and histological examination revealed a diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the trachea. To conclude, primary tracheal tumors, even though rare, should be suspected in cases of refractory chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chest CT and bronchoscopy must be done to aid correct diagnosis.

Modern chemoradiation practices for malignant tumors of the trachea: An institutional experience.

Background: Malignant tumors of the trachea are rare. A multimodality treatment approach is often necessary. Outcomes of radical non-surgical approaches are sparse. Radiation combined with sequential or concurrent chemotherapy is an important treatment option. Materials and Methods: We present an analysis of outcomes using modern radiotherapy and chemotherapy for tracheal tumors. Results: Radiation dose escalation using modern techniques is of benefit for these tumors. The results with chemotherapy are encouraging. Conclusions: Radiation plays a distinct role and should be a part of treatment for these tumors. The role of chemotherapy needs to be studied further.

Management and prognosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma with tracheal invasion / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate treatment modalities and prognosis differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with tracheal invasion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data were reviewed and analyzed in 50 patients treated for DTC with tracheal invasion between January 1990 and June 1998. The different surgical modalities were applied according to the extent of tracheal invasion: shave excision (20 cases), tracheal sleeve resection or tracheal partial resection (23 cases), total laryngectomy or laryngeal closure surgery (7 cases). Thirty-eight cases received postoperative (131)I therapy. Survival rate was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates of all the cases were 90.0%, 74.0% and 56.0%, respectively. The 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates were 94.7%, 81.6% and 65.8% respectively in 38 cases with postoperative (131)I therapy and were 75.0%, 50.0% and 25.0% respectively in 12 cases without postoperative (131)I therapy, with statistically significant differences in 5-, 10- or 15-year survival rates between the patients of two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The tumors can be resected radically by corresponding surgery based on the extent of tracheal invasion. Postoperative (131)I therapy can enhance the survival rate of the patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma involving in trachea.</p>

Surgical treatment and reconstruction of thyroid carcinoma invading cervical esophagus and trachea full-thickness / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To summary the clinical therapy experience of thyroid carcinoma invading cervical esophagus and trachea full thickness and reconstruction of them to improve the survival rate and quality of life of these patients.@*METHOD@#In 33 patients with thyroid carcinoma inviding cervical esophagus and trachea, 7 patients were operated with total thyroid resection, 22 patients were operated with one lobectomy and the other side subtotal thyroid resection,and 4 patients were operated with partial lobectomy. Trachea local recection and intubation were performed on 19 patients, partial laryngectomy and pyriform sinus resection with trachea local recection and intubation were performed on 4 patients,and 10 cases were operated with tracheal sleeve resection and end to end anastomos.@*RESULT@#All patients were primary healing without tracheal anastomosis fistula, tracheal wall necrosis, esophageal fistula and pharyngeal fistula. One case had hypoparathyroidism after the operation and took a favorable turn a month later. Seven cases were dead (21. 21%). 1-year, 3-year, 5-year survival rates of the thyroid papillary carcinoma inviding cervical esophagus and trachea were 100.0%, 93.8% and 70.3%; 1-year, 3-year, 5-year survival rates of the thyroid carcinoma inviding cervical esophagus and trachea were 96.6%, 79.0% and 61.4%.@*CONCLUSION@#Thyroid carcinoma invading cervical esophagus and trachea full-thickness can be treated with surgical methods, and tracheal sleeve resection and end to end anastomos are the suitable methods.

Tumores primitivos traqueales / Tracheal primary Tumours

Antecedentes: Los tumores primitivos de la tráquea son infrecuentes y el éxito del tratamiento quirúrgico depende de la precisa indicación y selección de pacientes. Objetivos: Evaluar los factores histopatológicos y quirúrgicos que pudieran influir en la supervivencia de una serie de pacientes con tumores primarios de tráquea tratados quirúrgicamente. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de tumor primitivo traqueal desde enero del 1971 hasta junio del 2011. Dieciséis de estos pacientes fueron motivo de una publicación previa. Las variables analizadas fueron: edad, tipo histológico, longitud de la resección y presencia de enfermedad en márgenes de resección. Para el análisis de supervivencia se utilizó el log rank test y las curvas de Kaplan Meier utilizando el paquete estadístico STATA 9.0. Los datos están expresados en medianas, rangos, IC 95% y porcentajes. El número de casos por grupo invalida realizar análisis multivariado. Resultados: Fueron estudiados 54 pacientes: 22 hombres (41%) y 32 mujeres (59%). Mediana de edad: 50 años. El tipo histológico más frecuente fue el carcinoma adenoide quístico (41%), seguido por el carcinoma epidermoide (19%), los tumores carcinoides (7.4%), adenocarcinomas (7.4%), el carcinoma mucoepidermoide de bajo grado (6%) y el fibrosarcoma (6%); el resto (13.2%) correspondió a lesiones benignas. La mediana de seguimiento para todos ellos fue de 2 años (rango 1-26 años). Al analizar separadamente los tumores adenoquísticos (22) y epidermoides (10), encontramos que la edad mayor a 50 años (HR 3.27, IC 95% 1.24-8.67, p = 0.017), el diagnóstico de carcinoma epidermoide (HR 12.29, IC 95% 3.18-47.49, p = 0.00), la presencia de márgenes de resección positivos (HR 5.78, IC 95% 1.42-23.64, p = 0.015) y las resecciones mayores a 6 cm (HR 11.86, IC 95% 3.31-42.44 p = 0.00) fueron factores asociados significativamente a menor tiempo de supervivencia. Conclusiones: En esta serie de tumores traqueales observamos que los pacientes mayores a 50 años, el carcinoma epidermoide, las resecciones extensas y los márgenes insuficientes fueron factores de mal pronóstico. Estos factores deben tenerse en consideración al establecer la estrategia terapéutica en cada paciente.

Background: Primary tracheal tumors are infrequent and their successful treatment depends on the selection of patients and precise surgical indications. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the histopathology and surgical factors that may influence survival in a series of patients with tracheal tumors that underwent surgery, endoscopic resection, prosthesis, and oncologic treatment. Methods: We revised the records of 54 patients with the diagnosis of tracheal tumors from January 1971 through June 2011. A report on sixteen of these patients was published previously. The following features were taken into account: age, histological type of the tumor, extent of resection of the involved trachea and the presence of remaining disease in the margins. The log Rank test and Kaplan Meier curves were used for survival analysis. Data were expressed as median, ranges, CI 95% and percentages. Multivariate analysis was not performed due to the small number of cases per group. Results: The series consisted of 54 patients, 22 men (41%) and 32 women (59%) . The median age was 50 years. The commonest histological type was adenocystic carcinoma (41%) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (19 %,) carcinoid tumors (7.4%) adenocarcinoma (7.4%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (6%) and fibrosarcoma (6%). The remaining tumors were benign lesions (13.2%). The median follow up was 2 years, (range 1-26 years). Analyzing separately adenocystic carcinomas (22) and squamous cell carcinomas (10), we found that age older than 50 years (HR 3.27, 95% CI 1.24-8.67, p = 0.017), diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (HR 12.29, 95 % 3.18-47.49, p = 0.00), the presence of tumor in the margins (HR 5.78, 95% CI 1.42-23.64, p = 0.015), and resections greater than 6 cm (HR 11.86, 95% CI 3.31-42.44 p = 0.00) were significantly associated with shorter survival time. Conclusion: This larger series of cases confirm, and extend the conclusions of our previous report. We found that in both, adenocystic carcinoma (ACC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the age, the presence of tumor in the resection margins, and the extent of resection (more than 6 cm) were significantly associated with a poorer prognosis and shorter survival time.

Carcinoma adenóide cístico localmente avançado de traquéia tratado com radioterapia associada à quimioterapia / Locally Advanced Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Trachea Treated with

Introdução: O carcinoma adenoide cístico representa o segundo tipo histológico mais frequente entre os raros tumores traqueais. Relato do caso: Paciente de 67 anos com dispneia progressiva. Tomografia de tórax mostrou formação expansiva no terço distal da traqueia cuja biópsia evidenciou carcinoma adenoide cístico primário de traqueia. O paciente evoluiu com piora do quadro respiratório, sendo encaminhado em caráter de urgência para radioterapia concomitante à quimioterapia com cisplatina, apresentando então melhora respiratória importante. Dois anos edez meses após o término do tratamento, apresentava-se sem queixas clínicas relevantes e sem toxicidades crônicas inerentes ao tratamento. Broncoscopia e tomografia de tórax não mostravam sinais de recidiva tumoral. Conclusão: Ocarcinoma adenoide cístico de traqueia tem na cirurgia sua principal modalidade terapêutica. Contudo, em pacientescom tumores irressecáveis, a radioterapia representa a principal modalidade terapêutica, podendo ser combinada à quimioterapia. O prognóstico desses tumores permanece reservado, mesmo após ressecção completa, com altas taxasde recidiva local e/ou a distância.

A case of tracheal papilloma / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

A 63-year-old male patient, with 5 years history of progressive dyspnea and aggravation for 1 year, was hospitalized in our hospital; and there was a slight cough, but no cough phlegm, chest pain, hemoptysis or hoarseness. Physical examination showed that there was a third-degree respiratory distress, obvious three depression sign, but no mass in the neck. Electronic laryngoscopy examination reported a mulberry-like mass in trachea about 1.5cm from the glottis. The tumor occupied 90% range of lumen with its base close to the anterior wall of trachea,and tumor could move up and down with cough airflow. After hospitalization, this patient received intratracheal tumor resection under local anesthesia, and postoperative pathology report showed endotracheal papillomatosis, covered by ciliated columnar epithelium.

role of tracheal stenting as an alternative treatment in cicatricial and non-operable tracheal stenosis

Tracheal stenosis is normally caused by trauma, infection, benign and malignant tumors, prolonged intubation or tracheostomy. The best treatment for tracheal stenosis is resection and anastomosis of trachea. Yet the major surgical complication of tracheal surgery is postoperative stenosis. The goal of this paper is to study the result of tracheal stenting as a replacement therapy for patients suffering from tracheal stenosis who are not good candidates for surgery. This study presents the results of stenting in patients with: Inoperable tumoral stenosis,Non-tumoral stenosis being complicated due to prior surgeries,Inability to undergo a major surgery. The study was performed between September 2002 and July 2011 and poly flex stents were used by means of rigid bronchoscopy. A total of 25 patients received stents during this study. Among them 15 patients suffered from benign and 10 suffered from malignant tracheal stenosis. The patients were followed up for at most 12 months after the stenting operation. The mean age of the patients was 35 years. The most common cause of stenosis was prolonged intubation [75%]. The most common indication for stenting was the history of multiple tracheal operations. The most common complication of stenting and cause of stent removal was formation of granulation tissue. 30% of patients with benign tracheal stenosis were cured and about 10% improved until they could stand a major operation. Ten patients in benign group and 2 patients in malignant group [20%] needed T-Tube insertion after stent removal but other patientcure by stenting. In benign cases stenting is associated with recurrence of symptoms which requires other therapeutic techniqus, so the stenting may not be named as a final solution in benign cases. However, this technique is the only method with approved efficacy for malignant cases with indication

Tracheal polyp treated with endobronchial electrocautery.

Fibroepithelial polyps of trachea are extremely rare. Here, we report a case of tracheal polyp in a 40-year-old woman that was managed successfully with endobronchial electrocautery with a review of the relevant literature.

Clinical and radiological manifestations of primary tracheobronchial tumours: a single centre experience

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Tracheobronchial tumours usually cause an airway obstruction and secondary pulmonary infections. Although rare, they are an important differential diagnosis as they may mimic other conditions and diseases. This paper aims to analyse clinical, radiological and histological characteristics of the patients with tracheobronchial tumours diagnosed for a period of 7 years.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>In this retrospective, observational study, we carefully reviewed 65 patients who were diagnosed with tracheal and endobronchial tumours, and performed statistical analysis on the results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among these 65 patients (36 men and 29 women) with a mean age of 48.8 years (range, 15 to 75), 50 had malignant tumours while 15 had benign ones. The most common symptoms were cough, chest pain and haemoptysis. Cough was a more frequent symptom in patients with benign tumours (P <0.0014). Only 2 patients were asymptomatic. Tumours were predominantly localised in the large airways (46 in large bronchi and 2 in trachea). The most common radiological manifestation of malignant tumours was tumour mass (46%) followed by atelectasis. One third benign tumour caused atelectasis, while tumour mass and consolidation were found in 3 patients each. Computerised tomography revealed endoluminal tumour mass in 29.2% of the cases, which was more frequently found in benign than malignant tumours (47% vs 24%, respectively). On bronchoscopy, tumours were visible in 73% and 70% benign and malignant cases respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tracheobronchial tumours should be ruled as a possible diagnosis in patients with cough, haemoptysis, dyspnoea and chest pain. The imaging techniques and histological examination of the tissue would subsequently lead to correct diagnosis and proper treatment can be administered.</p>