Tracheal reconstruction with free composite cartilage graft: a case report

Tracheal resection followed by an end-to-end anastomosis has been the method of choice for the treatment of tracheal neoplasms. We hereby report a 40-year-old female patient in whom we performed reconstruction with composite nasal septal cartilage graft following one-staged tracheal resection. Histopathologic diagnosis was well-differentiated adenoid cystic carcinoma. Fiberoptic and biopsy examinations made within the first postoperative month showed no residual or recurrent tumor at the resection site. The patient received radiotherapy postoperatively. She has been free of disease for 18 months. To our knowledge, the use of composite nasal septal cartilage graft in the reconstruction of tracheal tumors has not been previously reported.