[Effect of ethanol injection in tracheal large cell carcinoma--a case report]

A 66-year-old woman was admitted with dyspnea. A tracheal tumor was found by bronchofiberscopy, and histological examination revealed large cell carcinoma. The tumor obstructed nearly 90% of her tracheal lumen, so we performed intratumoral ethanol injection. The tumor became almost completely necrotic, and obstruction of her airway markedly improved. No serious complication was found. Intratumoral ethanol injection was very effective and safe in this case. This is the fifth report of undifferentiated carcinoma of the trachea in Japan.