Malignant tracheal tumor--differential diagnosis in bronchial asthma
Sander, K.M.; Kristensen, S.; Pedersen, U.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 111(29): 3510-3511
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 1665599 Document Number: 386065
Primary tumours of the trachea are rare and most of the symptoms relate to obstruction of the air passage leading to inspiratory and expiratory stridor. Unfortunately, the inclusion of malignant tracheal neoplasms in the differential diagnosis of onset of wheeze in adults is even more rare than the tumours themselves. We report a case where a tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma presented symptoms suggestive of bronchial asthma. It is emphasized that delay by the physician in diagnosing tracheal tumours is the principal problem, and that adult patients who experience onset of stridor and dyspnoe and do not respond to accepted medical treatment deserve systematic radiographic and endoscopic evaluation of the entire air passage.