OBJECTIVETo review the experience of diagnosis and treatment of primary cervical tracheal tumor.

METHODSMedical history records of 38 patients with primary cervical tracheal tumor who were treated at department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 1981 and December 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty six patients underwent surgical resection, twelve patients received only radiotherapy. Eleven patients underwent sleeve tracheal resection, thirteen patients with partial tracheal wall resection and 6 of them with tracheal reconstruction immediately, two patients with total laryngectomy and resection of partial trachea and thyroid lobectomy.

RESULTSThirty four patients had malignant tumors, among which 19 cases were adenoid cystic carcinoma and 10 cases squamous cell carcinoma. The 3-year and 5-year survival rate were 79. 80% and 48. 36% respectively for the patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, 80.00% and 20. 00% respectively for the patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The rate of complication was 18.4% (7/38), among which tracheal stenosis was 11.5% (3/26).

CONCLUSIONSMost of primary cervical tracheal tumors were malignant, adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were the common malignant cervical tracheal tumors. Surgery is the first choice for cervical tracheal tumors, and the sleeve trachea resection is one of the optimal surgical modality.