Tracheal schwannoma: A pseudo-asthmatic syndrome with successful laser Nd-YAG resection as first-line therapy

Neurogenic tumors like schwannoma are sporadic in less than 0.5 % of primary tracheal tumors (PTT). Schwannoma can be misdiagnosed with asthma because of nonspecific symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, or dyspnea.

A 39-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with severe dyspnea at rest and needs oxygenation. Rigid Bronchoscopy revealed an intratracheal white pedunculated lesion with visible vessels. A frozen section's result was benign Showannoma. Nd-YAG Laser was performed to melt the tumor, and then the lesion was swept away. After that, the Nd-YAG laser was used to remove tumor remnants.

Our case emphasizes that rigid bronchoscopy with Nd-YAG laser resection was a very successful tool for managing schwannoma, and bronchoscopic surveillance showed No Recurrence as the benign nature of pedunculated schwannoma without an extratracheal component.

Awareness of the possibility of schwannoma as a primary tracheal tumor is important, although it is phenomenal, it can cause pseudo-asthmatic status because it has non-specific symptoms.