Rosai-Dorfman Disease, Presenting as a Mass in the Trachea: A Case Report

A 45-year-old woman was referred to our clinic for evaluation of a 17 mm tracheal mass detected incidentally during a routine health check-up. The mass was removed bronchoscopically using rigid bronchoscopy for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Multidisciplinary review confirmed the diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD). As the patient remained asymptomatic, the residual extratracheal lesion was initially managed with observation. However, 20 months after resection, follow-up CT revealed progression of the extratracheal component. Consequently, systemic corticosteroid therapy was initiated and continued for 9 months. The lesion showed a marked reduction in size and has remained stable for 4 years following the completion of steroid treatment. This case highlights that rare entities such as RDD can present as tracheal masses and should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Local resection followed by corticosteroid therapy can be an effective treatment approach.