Asymptomatic tracheal MALT lymphoma discovered on spirometric findings presenting with elevated respiratory resistance

Abstract

BackgroundCentral airway obstruction (CAO) may be caused by various etiologies. However, conventional chest X-rays are rarely diagnostic for patients with CAO.Case presentationWe here described a 64-year-old asymptomatic female with tracheal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma discovered on spirometric findings during a complete physical examination. The plateau of forced expiratory flow was consistent with CAO. A decreased peak expiratory flow rate was noted at least 3 years before the diagnosis, and was attributed to an insufficient effort by the patient. Impulse oscillometric measurements, which were taken during quiet breathing and were effort-independent, suggested elevated respiratory resistance. These abnormalities completely disappeared after radiation therapy.ConclusionThe addition of impulse oscillometry to spirometry may be useful for screening CAO in routine health examinations.

A case of endobronchial mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma successfully treated with radiotherapy and a review of the literature

“…The other 7 cases that were incidentally found in asymptomatic patients occurred during examination for motor vehicle accident, follow up of both benign and malignant tumours in other organs, asbestos exposure, and so on. 1,4,8,14,18,22,29 In conclusion, we report a case of EML which was found at an annual health checkup. Bronchoscopy revealed 5 nodular smooth surfaced protrusions on the ventral surface of the right mainstem bronchus.…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, only 48 cases have been reported in the literature, including English‐language articles and 2 abstracts in English from conference presentations 1–38 . Furthermore, there has been only one report that reviewed the literature with 20 cases 4 .…”

“…We herein report a case of EML that was diagnosed through a chest computed tomography (CT) during an annual health checkup which was successfully treated with radiotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, only 48 cases of EML have been reported in the literature 1–38 . To date, a comprehensive review of this rare condition is not available.…”

Tracheolaryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Extensive Mucosal Spread Without Metastasis in a Female

“…Malignant subtypes remain far more common than benign ones [7]. Other than its wide histological variability, some tracheal tumors are interesting, as they can stay asymptomatic for so long, only incidentally found on imaging or spirometry [18]. Also, they can coexist with another type of tumor simultaneously, commonly primary thyroid cancer [9,13].…”

Tracheobronchial tumors

“…In these patients the shape of the flow-volume loop became abnormal earlier than spirometric measurements ( Figure 1) (8)(9)(10). The presence of extrathoracic or intrathoracic fixed lesion results in flattening of both the inspiratory and expiratory parts of The body plethysmography and impulse oscillometry are useful in detecting increased respiratory resistance in patients with tracheal and bronchial tumors (11).…”