Emergency tracheal surgery for adenoid cystic carcinoma: A rare entity

Abstract

Primary tumours of the trachea are rare. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) constitutes less than 1% of these tumours. They occasionally masquerade as asthma. We are presenting a case of a young female, who had been treated for 3 years as asthma. She presented in emergency with severe respiratory difficulty, stridor and decreasing saturation of 85% on room air. Two weeks back, she had a CT scan in a local hospital, but they did not notify the tracheal mass. Her clinical picture and CT scan helped us diagnose the case. She was treated in emergency with primary resection of tracheal mass and anastomosis. The tumor was diagnosed as ACC. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Continuity of the trachea was restored and adjuvant radiotherapy was given.