[Diagnosis and treatment of a benign tracheal tumour: a schwannoma]

Abstract

Introduction: Schwannomas are extremely rare benign tumours in the tracheo-bronchial tree.

Case report: A rigid bronchoscopy was performed in a fifty-six-year-old woman with clinical features of atypical asthma. It permitted total resection and histological examination of a tracheal tumour. It was identified as a benign schwannoma.

Conclusion: Using this case report as an illustration, and an analysis of the world literature, the clinical, investigative, histological and therapeutic aspects of tracheo-bronchial schwannoma are discussed. Dyspnoea seems to be the most frequent initial symptom. Investigations, including flexible bronchoscopy, failed to reach a diagnosis. In the past, thoracic surgery was the gold standard treatment, but nowadays, rigid bronchoscopy would be the first choice technique for endo-tracheal or endo-bronchial tumours allowing both histological analysis and complete resection.