Overview of malignant tracheal tumors

Malignant airway tumors present particular challenges for surgeons, namely: to distinguish symptoms from those of the more frequent benign airway diseases; to separate metastatic disease from the uncommon primary tumors; and to consider curative resection in appropriate candidates. Here, we present a critical review of tracheal malignant obstruction, focusing on the evaluation of a patient with malignant airway tumor, patient selection for resection and the predictors of long-term survival. The new development in primary tracheal tumors is an old story, that of making physicians aware that resection rates in epidemiologic studies remain low, mainly because opportunities for resection are missed.