Amyloid pseudotumor treated by tracheal resection

Primary amyloidosis is a rare disease, and even more so when it appears as a tumorlike formation in the lung or tracheobronchial tree. On rare occasions it has been treated by pulmonary resection but never before by tracheal or bronchial sleeve resection. A case of tracheal sleeve resection for tumorlike amyloidosis is reported. If the lesion is well circumscribed to a relatively short tracheal or bronchial segment, sleeve resection appears to be a satisfactory and economical solution. However, the problem of a mucosa undermined by amyloid deposits above and below the tumorlike lesion entails the risk of anastomotic stenosis. For this reason in future cases, particularly those with extensive involvement, piecemeal endoscopic removal should be considered as the method offering the best prognosis and least risk.