Malignant neoplasms of the trachea

Tracheal tumors are rare. They tend to be diagnosed late because of delayed specific symptoms. Of the nine patients studied, eight had primary tumors (squamous cell carcinoma) and one had a metastasis from a primary colon cancer. Most of these tumors could be seen on good quality chest radiographs. Linear tomograms and esophagograms were useful. Computed tomography tends to underestimate the size of the lesion.