Primary carcinoma of the trachea

Five cases of primary carcinoma of the trachea are summarized together with a review of 97 cases recorded at the Birmingham Cancer Registry between 1957 and 1974. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent type (46.4%) followed by anaplastic and oat cell carcinoma (18.5%). The annual incidence rate is 0.15 per 100 000 in males and 0.06 per 100 000 in females. The mean age at presentation is 60.08 years and 63.89 years for males and females respectively. Although there has been an increase in the number of cases reported over this period, the increase in larynx (43%) and trachea (50%) has not kept pace with that for bronchial carcinoma (85%). Some experimental studies in animals and the results of treatment in 97 cases from the Cancer Registry are reported. A brief summary of methods of treatment for carcinoma of the trachea is included. In suitable cases, primary surgery with direct anastomosis offers the best survival rates, although the overall survival rate is poor.