Adenocarcinoma of the trachea: palliative response to cobalt-60 irradiation

The prognosis of mucus-secreting adenocarcinoma of the trachea is grim. Its large size and infiltrative nature prohibit surgical resection and the response to radiation therapy has been poor. The authors report a case in which notable initial palliation was achieved through cobalt-60 therapy resulting in regression of the patient's tumour and a longer survival than that previously reported in patients with this disease.