Tracheal Schwannoma: An Uncommon Entity

Abstract

Primary tracheal tumours are extremely rare with most of them being malignant. Histologically, both primary tracheal tumours and main stem tumours are similar but the former is about 100 times less common than the latter. Primary neurogenic tumours of trachea account for only about 9% of all neoplasms of trachea. Tracheal schwannoma is the rarest of all neurogenic tumours and there is no unanimous opinion regarding line of treatment. They are usually seen in females and their clinical features are not specific. Chronic cough, progressive respiratory distress and sometimes asthma-like symptoms prevail as the presenting complaints. The reported patient had completely obstructing right endobronchial tumour extending in lower third of trachea. Pneumonectomy along with sleeve excision of trachea with hilar dissection was done.

Keywords

• bronchoscopy
• neurogenic
• pneumonectomy