Primary tracheal tumors: experience with 14 resected patients.
OBJECTIVE
Primary tracheal tumors are rare. Management includes interventional endoscopy, surgery and radiotherapy.


METHODS
Between 1987 and 1996, 14 patients treated by resection and reconstruction of the trachea and bifurcation for primary tracheal tumors were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
The most common histological finding was adenoid cystic carcinoma (n=7), followed by a squamous cell carcinoma (n=2), a mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n=2), a carcinoid tumor (n=1) and two benign tumors (xanthogranuloma, pleomorphic adenoma). Various reconstruction techniques were used and one prosthesis was implanted. Eight of the patients required preoperative Nd-YAG laser recanalisation. Six were treated by postoperative external beam radiotherapy, in three cases combined with endoluminal brachytherapy. Two major postoperative wound-healing impairment at the anastomosis occurred. Four minor wound-healing disorders were successfully treated by interventional endoscopy. Two patients died postoperatively with mediastinitis respectively with bilateral pneumonia. A local recurrence was observed in only two cases. At the last follow-up in January 1998, nine patients were still alive. We observed five long-term survivors (>6 years) with an adenoid cystic carcinoma or mucoepidermoid carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Extensive segmental resection of the trachea is the treatment of choice for primary malignant and occasionally for benign tracheal tumors. Interventional endoscopy is a part of modern tracheal surgery.
Schneider
P
P
Department of Surgery, Benjamin Franklin Medical Center, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. p.schneider@ukbf.fu-berlin.de
Schirren
J
J
Muley
T
T
Vogt-Moykopf
I
I
D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy