title: Successful cryotherapy of a benign tracheal neoplasm.
abstract: A 10-year-old black male with a 6-month history of progressive dyspnea and stridor was found to have a submucosal mass occupying 75% of the subglottic airway. Biopsy specimens showed a pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary gland origin--a tumor with a predilection for local recurrence after resection. A tracheostomy was performed for airway control and the lesion was treated with endotracheal cryotherapy. Two months later, the tracheostomy was removed and the patient has remained asymptomatic for 9 years. Pulmonary function studies 2 years following cryotherapy demonstrated a forced vital capacity (FVC) of 81% predicted, and a forced expiratory volume-one second (FEV-1) of 73% predicted. Bronchoscopy with biopsy at 5 years showed no evidence of recurrent airway obstruction or persistent tumor. This represents the first reported case of successful treatment of an airway tumor in a child utilizing profound cryotherapy. The case illustrates the utility of endotracheal cryotherapy in the treatment of certain benign and malignant obstructing lesions of the airway in children.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moazam
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Talbert
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003452:Cryosurgery; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*