2Department of Thoracic Surgery, Uludağ University, Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul-Turkey DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2019.2072 OBJECTIVE
In this study, we aimed to evaluate our patients with tracheal tumours treated with primary or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and to review the current literature on the subject.
METHODS
Between 1998 and 2017, eight patients underwent RT. Their median age was 37 years (15?53). The diagnosis
was adenoid cystic carcinoma in five patients, squamous cell carcinoma in three patients and mucoepidermoid
carcinoma in one patient. Resection type was R0 (1), R1 (4), R2 (1), and biopsy (2). The
median tumour size was 2.6 cm (2?5). Median 59.4 Gy RT (32.4-66.6) was given, and weekly cisplatin
was administered to four patients concomitantly.
RESULTS
With a median follow-up of 85 months (4?189), five patients were alive. The 5-year overall and diseasefree
survival rates were 83% and 67%, respectively. There was no local recurrence in any patient. In one
patient who had a complete response with curative chemo-RT, dilatation was performed five times in 10
years because tracheal stenosis developed at 60 months.
CONCLUSION
Trachea tumours are rare, and the primary treatment is surgery. Adjuvant RT is controversial in R0
cases. In unresectable cases, RT is the primary treatment modality. We believe that our treatment results
will contribute to the literature on the subject.