Primary tracheal neoplasms: recognition, diagnosis and evaluation

Primary neoplasms of the trachea are much less common than malignancies of the larynx and lungs. Tracheal neoplasms account for less than 0.1 percent of all neoplasms. Their importance lies in the fact that they may initially be misdiagnosed, resulting in a delay in diagnosis ranging from months to years. The most common benign tracheal neoplasms are hemangiomas, squamous papillomas and fibromas. The most common tracheal malignancy is squamous cell carcinoma. Symptoms of these lesions are usually related to airway obstruction and include wheezing, dyspnea and cough.