Tracheal pleomorphic adenoma with coexisting pulmonary tuberculoma

Abstract

Tracheal tumors are rare and difficult to diagnose. Moreover, delays in diagnosis are very common because the symptoms are nonspecific. As a result, tracheal tumors are commonly mistreated as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchial asthma. We report a case of a 49-year-old male who presented with a 3-month history of dyspnea and cough. Chest computed tomography scan showed a 1.5×1.3 cm homogenous tumor originating from the right lateral wall of the tracheobronchial angle into the tracheal lumen as well as a 0.5×0.4 cm round nodular lesion at the right upper lobe with multiple mediastinal lymph nodes enlargement. Bronchoscopic findings revealed a broad-based, polypoid lesion nearly obstructing the airway of the right main bronchus. The patient was diagnosed with pleomorphic adenoma which is the most common benign tumor of the salivary glands, but rarely appears in the trachea. Upon surgery, tracheal pleomorphic adenoma and co-existing active pulmonary tuberculoma that had been mistreated as bronchial asthma over 3 months was revealed. Following surgery, the patient underwent anti-tuberculosis treatment. No recurrence has been detected in the 3 years since treatment and the patient is now asymptomatic.

Pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea: A case report

“…Pleomorphic adenoma is a common benign neoplasm that affects the salivary glands; however, its occurrence in the trachea is relatively rare [ 1 ]. To date, only 40 cases of pleomorphic tracheal adenoma have been reported in the English language literature [ [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] ]. No clear sex or age predominance was observed.…”

“…No clear sex or age predominance was observed. The age of the affected individuals ranged from 8 to 83 years [ [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] ].…”