[Tracheobronchial compression by congenital tumors]

The writer reports on 21 observations of congenital cervicomediastinal tumors with respiratory distress by tracheo-bronchic compression (7 cystic hygromas, 4 hemangiomas, 8 teratomas, 2 thymic cysts), and review the literature about: frequence of respiratory troubles caused by these tumors (44% among benign mediastinal tumors, younger than 2 years child); and their etiopathology: tracheal compression by tumor (cystic hygroma, teratoma), tracheal invasion (hemangioma), post surgical tracheomalacia, nervous lesions; diagnostic (Xray, TDM, endoscopy) and therapeutic (intubation, tracheostomy) accessments in pre and postoperative periods.