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Case Reports
. 2019 Nov 8:34:137.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2019.34.137.14902. eCollection 2019.

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree: report of two cases

Ahmed Ben Saad  1 , Rania Kadoussi  1 , Manel Njima  2 , Saousen Cheikh Mhamed  1 , Nesrine Fahem  1 , Nouha Ben Abdeljelil  2 , Samah Joobeur  1 , Naceur Rouatbi  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree: report of two cases

Ahmed Ben Saad et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant epithelial tumor that predominantly originates in the salivary glands. Primary ACC of the tracheobronchial tree is extremely rare. We report two new cases of central airways primary ACC: a 58 year-old male with an ACC of the left main bronchus who underwent a pneumonectomy with node dissection, and a 52 year-old female with proximal tracheal ACC presenting as asthma treated by surgical resection and a postoperative radiotherapy. Primary ACC of the tracheobronchial tree is often misdiagnosed given the non-specific clinical presentation. An early diagnosis is essential to ensure good outcomes. An interdisciplinary treatment is required based especially on surgery and radiotherapy.

Keywords: Adenoid cystic carcinoma; bronchogenic carcinoma; lung cancer; salivary gland cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chest X ray-case 1: persistent left basal consolidation (white star) with a left mediastinal attraction (white arrow)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chest CT scan-case 1: (A) axial CT scan image; (B) coronal CT scan image. Left-sided bronchial-centric mass in the left main bronchus (white arrow) associated with multiple left hilar lymph nodes and carcinomatous lymphangitis in the left inferior lobe
Figure 3
Figure 3
Histopathology: (A) adenoid cystic carcinoma showing cribriform and tubular growth of small hyperchromatic epithelial cells (yellow arrow) (HEx40); (B) tumoral cells are cuboidal with scant cytoplasm and homogenous nuclei (yellow arrow) (HEx400)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Chest X ray - case 2: mediastinal widening (white arrow)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Spirometry: flow volume loop: flattened inspiratory curve (black arrow)
Figure 6
Figure 6
Chest CT scan - case 2: (A) axial CT scan image; (B) coronal CT scan image. Proximal tracheal solid mass (yellow arrow)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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