Successful surgical resection of leiomyoma obstructing the trachea

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Aug;61(8):476-8. doi: 10.1007/s11748-012-0147-7. Epub 2012 Aug 31.

Abstract

We report a case of 51-year-old woman with a severely airway-obstructing leiomyoma who underwent successful tracheal resection. A preoperative tumor biopsy was avoided not to cause any risk of suffocation. At surgery, an endotracheal intubation distal to the tumor was achieved with a bronchoscopic guidance. A segmental resection of the trachea with a primary end-to-end anastomosis was performed via a half-splitting median sternotomy. Negative surgical margins for tumor were confirmed intraoperatively. Final pathological diagnosis was a primary tracheal leiomyoma. Definitive surgical resection is a treatment of choice for such airway-obstructing, wide-based leiomyoma. Although a bronchoscopic removal of the tumor is an alternative choice, the risks of suffocation, positive surgical margins, and perforation of the trachea need to be carefully discussed if it is considered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Airway Obstruction / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leiomyoma / complications
  • Leiomyoma / diagnosis
  • Leiomyoma / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Trachea / pathology
  • Trachea / surgery*
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / complications
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Tracheal Neoplasms / surgery*