title: Clinical and radiological manifestations of primary tracheobronchial tumours: a single centre experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia. ruzastevic@yahoo.com
authors: Ruza
authors: R
authors: Stevic
authors: Branislava
authors: B
authors: Milenkovic
authors: Jelena
authors: J
authors: Stojsic
authors: Dragica
authors: D
authors: Pesut
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Ercegovac
authors: Dragana
authors: D
authors: Jovanovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging