Tracheal schwannoma presenting as status asthmaticus in a sixteen-year-old boy: airway considerations and removal with the CO2 laser.
A 16-year-old with clinical features of atypical asthma is presented, with a description of the workup leading to the diagnosis of an intratracheal mass. The mass was visualized with a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope, then surgically removed through a rigid bronchoscope using a CO2 laser. We believe this is the first report of resection using this technique. A discussion of tracheal neurilemmomas (schwannoma) is included. This case reinforces the age-old adage that "not all that wheezes is asthma."
Weiner
D J
DJ
Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, USA.
Weatherly
R A
RA
DiPietro
M A
MA
Sanders
G M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013147:Spirometry; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide