What are the clinical manifestations and causes of bronchial tumors?

Tracheal tumors are divided into two categories: benign tumors and malignant tumors. The vast majority (90%) of tracheal tumors in children are benign, while the majority of those in adults are malignant. This disease, whether benign or malignant, should be treated surgically. After the benign tumor is removed, the patient will recover completely. If the malignant tumor can be removed thoroughly and promptly, good therapeutic effects can also be achieved.

Causes

Primary tracheal malignant tumors mostly grow at the junction of the cartilage ring and the membrane. Squamous cell carcinoma may present as a mass that protrudes into the tracheal cavity or ulcerates, and sometimes the cancer may infiltrate long segments of the trachea. Advanced cases often metastasize to the mediastinal lymph nodes or spread into the lung tissue, and may directly invade the esophagus, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and larynx. Cystic adenoid carcinoma generally grows slowly and metastasizes later, sometimes showing long-segment submucosal infiltration or growth into the mediastinum. Some tumors are dumbbell-shaped, with a small part protruding into the tracheal cavity and most of them located in the mediastinum. In advanced cases, they can invade the mediastinum and bronchi. There are many types of primary benign tracheal tumors with different morphologies. In most cases, tumors grow slowly. The surface is smooth, the mucosa is intact, there is often a tumor pedicle, and no metastasis occurs. However, if the resection is not complete, it is easy to relapse. Papillomas often occur in the tracheal membranous part, protrude into the bottom of the tracheal cavity, often have thin pedicles, and range in size from a few millimeters to 2 centimeters. Sometimes multiple, warty in appearance, soft and brittle, easy to fall off, bleed when ruptured

Clinical manifestations

The clinical symptoms of tracheal tumors vary according to the location, size and nature of the tumor. Common early symptoms are an irritating cough with little or no sputum, sometimes with blood. When the tumor grows and gradually blocks more than 50% of the tracheal lumen, shortness of breath, dyspnea, and wheezing will occur. It is often misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma and treatment is delayed. Late-stage cases of tracheal malignancy may present with symptoms such as hoarseness, dysphagia, tracheoesophageal fistula, compression of mediastinal organ tissue, cervical lymph node metastasis and purulent lung infection.