Solitary primary tracheal small-cell lung cancer causing acute respiratory failure: diagnosis and treatment

Respir Care. 2010 Jul;55(7):929-32.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / complications
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrosurgery / methods
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / complications
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / therapy