Surgical management of tracheal tumours

The annual incidence of primary tracheal tumours in Sweden is less than 1 per million population. Five cases of malignant tracheal neoplasm treated with segmental resection and primary reconstruction are described. Exploration and mobilization of the trachea were performed via right thoracotomy. Suprahyoid laryngeal release was also done in two cases, using a cervicomediastinal approach. The length of resected segment in these cases was 6 and 7 cm. High-frequency positive-pressure ventilation was used in four of the five cases and greatly facilitated the operation. Recovery was uneventful. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was too extensive for extirpation in one case, but 4 months after radiotherapy a 7 cm tracheal segment with residual tumour was removed; 3 years later the patient is well. There was no stenosis or other late complication and no local recurrence in the long-term survivors. No vocal paralysis occurred. The two patients with laryngeal release had remarkably little and transitory dysphagia. Technical problems are discussed and conclusions are presented.