RARE TRACHEAL TUMOR MASQUERADING AS ASTHMA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rare Tracheal Tumor is often misdiagnosed as asthma and is treated with inhaled steroids and bronchodilators without resolution.DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive observational study.PLACE AND DURATION: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Post Graduate Medical InstituteLady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from Jan 2002 to Dec 2009.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Computerized clinical data of 9 cases of tracheal tumor was retrospectively analyzed over a period of 7 years. Patients with all ages, sex, diagnosed case of operable polypoidal tracheal tumor and with the clinical presentation of asthma were included in the study. Inoperable tracheal tumor, medically unfit patients and non polypoidal tracheal tumor was excluded from the study. In all cases tumor was removed bronchscopically. Post operative follow-up was done for six months with the help of bronchoscopy and computed tomography at 3 month interval. RESULTS: Out of 9 cases, 6 were female and 3 were male, age group was 20 to 40 years with a mean age of 28 years. Biopsy showed spindle cell tumor in 4 cases and benign polyp in 5 cases. During 6 months follow-up, recurrence was observed in 2 cases of spindle cell tumor of the trachea. There was no mortality and morbidity was 11.1% including postoperative pneumonia in one case.CONCLUSION: It is critical to bear in mind that not all wheezes are asthma and if a patient does not respond to appropriate anti-asthma therapy, localized obstructions should be ruled out before establishing the diagnosis of asthma.