Small-cell lung cancer often presents as an extensive cancer, and rarely as a solitary tracheal tumor. We report a 41-year-old male smoker with dyspnea and wheezing that was initially diagnosed as asthma and treated with bronchodilators. He was later intubated for acute respiratory failure, and computed tomography revealed a tracheal mass. Solitary primary small-cell lung cancer was diagnosed via bronchoscopic biopsy. The patient received bronchoscopic electro-surgery and was successfully extubated. Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy was performed due to the stage IV small-cell lung cancer.
GovindanR, PageN, MorgenszternD, ReadW, TierneyR, VlahiotisV. Changing epidemiology of small-cell lung cancer in the United States over the last 30 years: analysis of the surveillance, epidemiologic, and end results database. J Clin Oncol, 2006; 24(28):4539–4544.
KazawaN, KitaichiM, HiraokaTM, TogashiK, MioN, MishimaM, et al. Small cell lung carcinoma: eight types of extension and spread on computed tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr, 2006; 30(4):653–661.
4.
WoodDE. Management of malignant tracheobronchial obstruction. Surg Clin North Am, 2002; 82(3):621–642.
5.
WebbBD, WalshGL, RobertsDB, SturgisEM. Primary tracheal malignant neoplasms: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center experience. J Am Coll Surg, 2006; 202(2):237–246.
6.
DesaiDP, HolingerLD, Gonzales-CrussiF. Tracheal neoplasm in children. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1998; 107(9 Pt 1):790–796.
7.
RostiG, CarminatiO, MontiM, TamberiS, MarangoloM. Chemotherapy advances in small cell lung cancer. Ann Oncol, 2006; 17(Supp l5):99–102.
8.
SutedjaG, KralingenK, SchramelFM, PostmusPE. Fibreoptic bronchoscopic electrosurgery under local anaesthesia for rapid palliation in patients with central airway malignancies: a preliminary report. Thorax, 1994; 49(12):1243–1246.
9.
SheskiFD, MathurPN. Endobronchial electrosurgery: argon plasma coagulation and electrocautery. Semin Respir Crit Care Med, 2004; 25(4):367–374.
TellidesG, UgurluBS, KimRW, HammondGL. Pathogenesis of systemic air embolism during bronchoscopic Nd:YAG laser operations. Ann Thorac Surg, 1998; 65(4):930–934.
12.
VergnonJM, HuberRM, MoghissiK. Place of cryotherapy, brachytherapy and photodynamic therapy in therapeutic bronchoscopy of lung cancers. Eur Respir J, 2006; 28(1):200–218.
13.
CrostaC, SpaggiariL, De StefanoA. Endoscopic argon plasma coagulation for palliative treatment of malignant airway obstructions: early results in 47 cases. Lung Cancer, 2001; 33(1):75–80.
