Tracheal stenting under flexible bronchoscopy for large tracheoesophageal malignant lymphadenopathy

Abstract

A 67-year-old man with poorly controlled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presented with progressive dysphagia and was diagnosed with locally advanced carcinoma of the esophagus. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography staging showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy including a large lymph node in the tracheoesophageal groove with moderate tracheal compression. He was advised chemoradiotherapy but was reluctant to proceed with the same. He developed stridor 2 months later and repeat imaging showed increased size of the tracheoesophageal lymph node with critical airway narrowing. Since he was not fit for general anesthesia, he was subjected to tracheal stenting with self-expandable metal stent under flexible bronchoscopy. Following stent placement, there was relief of dyspnea, and stridor and the patient was discharged.