Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Of The Trachea Treated As COPD

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea is a rare malignant neoplasm. We present the case of a 64 year old man, exsmoker, who presented at the University Hospital of Larissa complaining of dyspnea on exertion, chest tightness and wheezing for more than one year. By that time the patient had been misdiagnosed and treated as chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) without any improvement of his symptoms. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a tumor which caused a 90% obstruction of the trachea lumen. Bronchoscopy was performed and the pathological diagnosis was adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea. The literature is reviewed.