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.