Primary malignant tumors of the trachea - the Tata Memorial Hospital experience.

OBJECTIVE Primary tumors of the trachea are extremely rare. Treatment methods vary considerably and few studies have sought to provide adequate guidelines. This study reviews the records of patients treated for tracheal cancer at the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai, India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Fifteen patients with primary tracheal malignancies were identified in the TMH database during the period from 1983 to 2000. They were predominantly males (87%) belonging to an older age-group (67% above 40 years). Common presenting symptoms were cough, hoarseness, hemoptysis and indications of airway obstruction. Squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest histologic subtype (40%) followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (27%). Ten patients received radical treatment. One patient underwent surgery (resection and anastomosis) and received postoperative radiotherapy. Another was explored but was found to be unresectable and was 1 of 2 patients treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Laser resections and radiotherapy were used in 2 patients while 4 patients were managed with radiotherapy alone. One patient was treated elsewhere. The majority of patients (8/9) were treated with locoregional fields and doses ranging from 40 to 60 Gy (median 50 Gy). Two patients also received intraluminal brachytherapy, 1 as part of initial treatment and another for recurrence. RESULTS Only 5 patients treated at TMH (5/9) achieved local control of their disease. Follow-up times ranged from 1 month to 134 months, median of 38 months. Distant metastases were identified in 4 patients (bone n = 1 and lung n = 3). Median survival was 38 months. Overall survival at 5 years was 37% by Kaplan-Meier method, but this figure should be treated with caution since only 6 patients had a follow-up of more than 2 years. CONCLUSION Tracheal cancer is a rare malignancy. Radiation therapy is a reasonably effective modality for unresectable disease.