Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea: a long-term problem

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea, although rare, is the second most common primary tumour of the trachea. It is a slow-growing tumour found in younger patients than the more common squamous cell carcinoma and is relatively resistant to treatment, but metastasizes late in the course of disease and even in unresectable cases can be palliated successfully for many years. We present a retrospective 20-year series of this condition from a single institute encompassing 13 patients of whom 6 were resected and 7 treated by palliative methods. A review of hospital records was carried out over the period 1984-2003. Details collected included symptoms before diagnosis, length of time from onset of the first symptom to diagnosis, resection details, survival statistics and accessory procedures tried before and after consideration of resection. The overall 5-year survival was 38.5%, but the mean survival in resected patients was 66 months as against 36 months for unresectable patients. Although most patients presented with dyspnoea, this was initially often attributed to other factors. The mean time of diagnosis from the onset of symptoms was 16 months. Although complete resection remains the management of choice if feasible, modern techniques of maintaining the airway in unresectable patients can give useful palliation for years.