Oncological tumors in the trachea do not occur very often. Mostly they are diagnosed in men 40-60 years old. In women, tracheal cancer occurs less frequently. In children, neoplasms in the trachea are benign in 90% of cases.
Trachea. Structure and description
First of all, in order to understand what is at stake, it is necessary to understand what the trachea itself is. This is a tube, the length of which is almost 11 cm, and the diameter is more than 3 cm. The beginning of the trachea is located under the larynx, then the organ behind the sternum descends. Down the trachea is divided into 2 tubes called bronchi.
The structure of the trachea is 18-22 dense cartilage rings. The back section of each ring is covered with muscles and connective tissue. The inside of the trachea is lined with a mucous membrane. On inspiration, the trachea expands and becomes longer, on exhalation it takes on a normal size.
A baby's trachea is much smaller. She starts at four centimeters and grows as she grows.
Tumor types
Neoplasms may be benign. The most common types are:
- Chondroma. These are solid nodules in the cartilaginous rings of the trachea. Most frequent placelocalization - larynx.
- Hemangioma. This is a growth of overdeveloped capillary tissue.
- Papilloma. Neoplasms provoked by the human papillomavirus. They look like cauliflower. The most common problem encountered in childhood.
Speaking of the problems of the respiratory system, most often they recall lung cancer. Oncology affects trachea less frequently. Most often, the following types of tumors are diagnosed here:
- Cylinder. Malignant growth of epithelial cells of the mucous glands. The main difficulty is the tendency to relapse and metastasis. This tracheal cancer develops relatively slowly. The patient can live with the tumor for about 5 years. Cases of a longer course of the disease were recorded.
- Squamous cell carcinoma. The tumor develops from the side or back wall of the trachea. Diagnosed tracheal cancer in 50% of cases is of this type. Sexual predisposition is observed. The most frequent patients are men over 40 years of age. Life expectancy without treatment is 1-2 years.
- Sarcoma. It most often develops at the site of a bifurcation of the trachea. It is difficult to diagnose, most often it is determined in the later stages.
From moderately common and rare malignant tumors, there are carcinoids, reticulosarcomas, neurofibromas, lymphogranulomatosis and others.
Provoking factors
There are a number of factors that can trigger tracheal cancer. The signs of these diseases do not look threatening, but require special attention.from the medical side. So, for example, as a result of ordinary inflammation, scars can appear, causing narrowing (stenosis) of the trachea. If endoscopy is not carried out in time, a malignant tumor may develop.
In some patients, the canal connecting the trachea and esophagus develops abnormally. The result is a fistula that causes lung and tracheal problems. Foreign bodies entering the trachea are also a risk factor.
Tracheal cancer can develop due to the softness of the tissues. This is called tracheomalacia. Pathology most often refers to congenital species, and requires constant monitoring. Adults suffer from softness of the tracheal tissues due to long-term smoking.
It is unacceptable to ignore the clamp of the trachea. This makes it difficult to breathe, and provokes the development of oncology. To eliminate the risk factor, stenting is performed.
Symptoms of the cancer process
Tracheal cancer, the symptoms and signs of which are difficult to detect in the early stages, has both common and distinctive manifestations. Common signs for oncological diseases include the following factors:
- temperature fluctuations;
- drastic weight loss;
- appetite disorder;
- fatigue;
- loss of interest in life.
Local symptoms
Specific, so-called local manifestations that tracheal cancer gives - symptoms indicating that the disease has been developing for more than 8 months:
- The appearance of shortness of breath. This sign indicates that there is a formation narrowing the lumen of the trachea.
- A state of suffocation. Occurs when lying down, during rest or sleep. Causes the patient to feel comfortable only while sitting.
- Violent dry cough. The symptom may be perceived as a manifestation of bronchitis or asthma, but does not respond to treatment. Cough worse with change of body position.
- Sputum with smell. Late-stage symptom that signals tumor decay.
- Difficulty swallowing. It signals the appearance of a tumor on the back wall of the trachea. The neoplasm grows into the esophagus, delaying food.
- Voice changes. Hoarseness and hoarseness indicate that the recurrent nerves are affected.
- Noise when breathing. Appears on inhalation or exhalation.
- Difficulty breathing. At the beginning of the process, the trachea is able to expand on inspiration, but with some difficulty. With the development of a cancerous tumor, difficulty accompanies not only inhalation, but also exhalation.
Each of these symptoms can be indicative for a doctor, so they should be described in the diagnosis.
Cancer stages
The stages of tracheal cancer, like other oncological processes, are determined based on the size of the neoplasm, the presence of metastases, and the nature of tissue damage. There are 4 stages in total:
- Tumor size up to 3 cm. No metastasis.
- Tumor development up to 6 cm. Metastasis to nearby lymph nodes is possible.
- The neoplasm is more than 6 cm. The tumor causes changes in the surrounding tissues. Metastases appear.
- Swelling out of controlgrows outside the body. Numerous metastases appear, organs distant from the initial localization can be affected.
At the first stage, tracheal cancer (photo) does not look too intimidating. This is a small formation or nodule that can be affected in various ways. The higher the stage of development, the more difficult the tumor is to treat. That is why when symptoms of a neoplasm appear, you should immediately seek advice and help. At the fourth stage, it is almost impossible to save the patient.
Treatment
Treatment options for tracheal cancer depend on many factors. The doctor must determine the type of tumor, identify its size, determine the stage of development. In addition, the age of the patient and his state of he alth before the detection of oncology are taken into account. When tumors, both malignant and benign, are detected, surgical removal is considered the best treatment option. This statement is especially relevant for neoplasms, the size of which is less than half the size of the trachea. If possible, after surgical exposure, the missing part of the trachea is restored.
Treatment of tracheal cancer does not give effective medical results. In inoperable cases, combined chemotherapy is performed with the addition of carboplatin or nedaplatin with simultaneous radiation exposure. Individual cases of the disease allow only brachytherapy.
If the tumor cannot be removed, thenthe airways are expanded with an artificial tube inserted into the trachea. This is called a trachiobronchial airway stent.
How the diagnosis is made
Most often, patients are sure that they go to the doctor with a protracted cold, bronchitis or asthma. If the doctor gets a reason to doubt the patient's condition, then he prescribes additional examinations. Usually these are the following procedures:
- Laryngoscopy, which makes it possible to detect a neoplasm in the upper trachea.
- Tracheotomy, which allows you to examine the internal state of the trachea through a small incision.
- X-ray with contrast to determine the location of the tumor.
- Biopsy, which consists in obtaining a sample of tumor tissue for histology and cytology.
For a more accurate diagnosis, MRI or CT is performed.
Prevention of tracheal cancer
Preventing any disease is easier than curing it. This means that a person must have an idea about the presence or absence of HPV in the body, we are talking about the human papillomavirus, which has the danger of degenerating into an oncological process. In addition, it is desirable to consciously give up smoking, especially after forty years, when the body reacts more sharply to external influences. Smoking is strictly contraindicated for people who have suffered other types of cancer. An excellent prevention of malignant neoplasms is physical activity, walking, regular exercise without overexertion, proper nutrition and adherence to a certain lifestyle.
It is imperative to temper and prevent bronchitis and asthma. Early detection and treatment of respiratory diseases. Once a year, each person should undergo a preventive visit to a doctor who, if a disease is suspected, will refer to the appropriate specialist.
Medical forecasts
To make a prognosis for recovery, the doctor must take into account many factors. The histological structure of the formation, the degree of blockage of the lumen of the trachea, the tendency to relapse, the neglect of the process are assessed. Despite the fact that tracheal cancer is very dangerous, with timely treatment, recovery is possible.
If a patient is suspected of having tracheal cancer, the symptoms and signs should be examined. The patient must undergo an examination, after which the doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and make the necessary treatment. Do not forget that the treatment of the disease at an early stage is more effective.
