An Autopsy Report of an Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Arising in the Trachea

Abstract

While adenoid cystic carcinoma is a common malignancy to arise within the salivary glands (21.9%) (Kokemueller et al. in Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 33:25–31, 2004), it is seldom encountered as a tracheal mass and represents < 1% of all lung cancers. Tracheal tumors are an uncommon cause of dyspnoea due to their relatively rare occurrence (Baydur and Gottlieb in JAMA 234:829–831, 1975). They pose considerable diagnostic challenge clinically as their symptoms mimics more commoner ailments like asthma and chronic bronchitis. As they carry good prognosis, a timely diagnosis is highly warranted for appropriate therapeutic intervention. We describe a rare autopsy case of an adenoid cystic carcinoma in a middle-aged gentleman who presented with severe breathlessness and dyspnoea and succumbed to his illness after a brief hospital stay. Because the symptoms were non-specific, he was treated on lines of asthma and bronchitis.

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