Secondary tracheal tumors: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pulmonology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Secondary tracheal tumors result from direct invasion, metastatic lymph nodes, or distant hematogenous spread.
• These rare malignancies necessitate a comprehensive understanding of their origins and clinical impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the presentation, management strategies, and clinical outcomes of secondary tracheal tumors.
• To evaluate treatment efficacy and survival rates for non-tracheal malignancies invading the airway.

Main Methods:

• Conducted systematic electronic searches of the MEDLINE database for case series and case reports.
• Included English-language studies with primary data on tracheal invasion by non-tracheal tumors or metastases.

Main Results:

• Analyzed 2,242 patients (1978-2017) with tracheal invasion, most commonly from thyroid, esophagus, and lung primaries.
• Dyspnea, neck mass, voice change, and hemoptysis were common presentations; surgical resection was performed in a majority of cases.
• Median survival was higher with thyroid malignancy and surgical management; 30-day mortality was low.

Conclusions:

• Optimal therapy for tracheal invasion requires assessment of symptoms, tumor grade, recurrence, and metastases.
• Palliative endoscopic intervention for metastasis-bearing lymph nodes causing tracheal obstruction may be underreported.