Adenoid cystic carcinoma of trachea: A rare tumor managed by diode laser and tracheal resection

Abstract

Introduction: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare type of cancer, which mostly occurs in the salivary glands of the head and neck, and has also been reported in other parts including trachea as case reports or small case series. The patient may present as asthma or acute tracheobronchial obstruction and may require urgent management to relive obstruction. It has a propensity to spread along both submucosal and perineural planes which are responsible for late local recurrence even after complete resection. The best results can be obtained by resection with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. Case Report: We report a rare case of endoluminal adenoid cystic carcinoma of the distal trachea presenting with acute tracheal obstruction managed bronchoscopically with high power diode laser followed by segmental resection of trachea and radiotherapy with 18 months of follow-up with no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: There are only very few reports available for the use of diode laser with flexible bronchoscope in tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma. However, rarity of such tumors makes it impossible to obtain such data. This technique, in such rare tumors, is safe with almost no or limited morbidity from our experience and available data.