Tracheo- and bronchoesophageal fistulas in Hodgkin's disease

Among 330 patients with Hodgkin's disease, in five development of fistula between the respiratory and alimentary tract was observed; tracheoesophageal in three and bronchoesophageal in two patients. Generalization of the disease was the cause of fistula in three patients; it appeared as a result of necrosis of the neoplastic infiltration during cytostatic treatment or radiotherapy. In the fourth patient the fistula was of iatrogenic origin (radiation induced damage), and in the fifth it was the result of secondary neoplasm (bronchial anaplastic cancer).