What does cancer of the trachea look like? Symptoms, treatment of tracheal cancer

Oncological tumors in the trachea do not occur very often. In general, they are diagnosed in men 40-60 years of age. In women, cancer of the trachea 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. It 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 under the larynx, then the organ behind the sternum descends. The trachea is divided into 2 tubes, called bronchi.

The structure of the trachea is 18-22 dense cartilaginous rings. The back of each ring is covered with muscles and connective tissue. The inside of the trachea is lined with a mucous membrane. At the inhalation the trachea expands and becomes longer, on exhalation - it takes on a normal size.

The child has a much smaller tracheal size. It starts at four centimeters, and as you grow older.

Types of tumors

Neoplasms can be benign in nature. The most common types are:

1. Chondroma. This is a solid nodular formation in the cartilaginous tracheal rings. The most frequent place of localization is the larynx.
2. Hemangioma. It is a built-up of excessively developed capillary tissue.
3. Papilloma. Neoplasms caused by human papillomavirus. By appearance resemble cauliflower. The most common problem encountered in childhood.

Speaking about the problems of the respiratory system, most often remember lung cancer. Trachea oncology affects less often. Most often, the following types of tumors are diagnosed here:

1. Cylinder. Malignant proliferation of epithelial cells of the mucous glands. The main difficulty is the tendency to relapse and metastasis. This cancer of the trachea develops relatively slowly. The patient can live with the tumor for about 5 years. There were also cases of a longer course of the disease.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma. The tumor develops from the lateral or posterior wall of the trachea. Diagnosed cancer of the trachea in 50% of cases refers to this type. There is a sexual predisposition. The most frequent patients are men older than 40 years. Life expectancy without treatment is 1-2 years.
3. Sarcoma. Most often develops in the place of bifurcation of the trachea. It is difficult to diagnose, it is most often determined in later stages.

Of the common and rare malignant tumors, there are carcinoids, reticulosarcomas, neurofibromas, lymphogranulomatosis and others.

The provoking factors

There are a number of factors that can provoke cancer of the trachea. The signs of these diseases do not look threatening, but require special attention from physicians. So, for example, as a result of the usual inflammation, there may appear scars causing constriction (stenosis) of the trachea. If the endoscopy is not carried out in time, a malignant tumor may develop.

In some patients, the channel connecting the trachea and esophagus develops abnormally. As a result, a fistula appears, causing lung and tracheal problems. As a risk factor are foreign bodies falling into the trachea.

Tracheal cancer can develop due to the softness of the tissues. This is called tracheomalacia. Pathology often refers to congenital species, and requires constant monitoring. Adults suffer from soft tissue trachea due to prolonged smoking.

It is inadmissible to ignore the tracheal clamp. This makes breathing difficult, and provokes the development of oncology. Stenting is used to eliminate the risk factor.

Symptoms of the oncological process

Tracheal cancer, the symptoms and signs of which are difficult to determine at early stages, has both common and distinctive manifestations. To general features, for oncological diseases, include the following factors:

• Temperature jumps;
• Severe weight loss;
• A violation of appetite;
• Fatigue;
• Loss of interest in life.

Local symptoms

Specific, so-called local manifestations, which gives cancer of the trachea are symptoms indicating that the disease develops more than 8 months:

1. Appearance of shortness of breath. This sign indicates that there is an education narrowing the lumen of the trachea.
2. State of suffocation. Occurs in a lying position, during rest or sleep. It leads to the fact that the patient can feel comfortable only when sitting.
3. A strong dry cough. A symptom can be perceived as a manifestation of bronchitis or asthma, but does not respond to treatment. Cough intensifies when the body position changes.
4. Sputum secretion with odor. A symptom of late stage, signaling the decay of the tumor.
5. Difficulty swallowing. Signs of a tumor on the back of the trachea. Neoplasm grows into the esophagus, delaying food.
6. Voice changes. Hoarseness and hoarseness indicate that the recurrent nerves are affected.
7. Noise in breathing. Appears on inhalation or exhalation.
8. Difficulty in breathing. At the beginning of the process, the trachea is able to expand on inspiration, but with some difficulties. With the development of a cancerous tumor - difficulty accompanies not only inhalation, but also exhalation.

Each of these symptoms can be indicative for the doctor, so they need to be described in the diagnosis.

Stages of cancer

Stages of cancer of the trachea, as well as other oncological processes, are determined based on the size of the tumor, the presence of metastases, the nature of tissue damage. In total there are 4 stages:

1. The size of the tumor is up to 3 cm. There is no metastasis.
2. Development of a tumor up to 6 cm. Metastasis to nearby lymph nodes is possible.
3. Neoplasm is more than 6 cm. The tumor causes changes in the surrounding tissues. There are metastases.
4. The tumor grows uncontrollably outside the body. There are numerous metastases, the organs remote from the initial localization can be affected.

At the first stage, the cancer of the trachea (photo) does not look too frightening. This is a small formation or nodule, which can be influenced in various ways. The higher the stage of development, the more difficult the tumor is to be treated. That is why when symptoms of neoplasm appear, you should immediately seek advice and help. In the fourth stage, it is almost impossible to save the patient.

Treatment

Options for treating cancer of the trachea depend on many factors. The doctor should establish the type of tumor, reveal its size, determine the stage of development. In addition, the age of the patient, and his state of health before detection of oncology are taken into account. When detecting tumors, both malignant and benign, the optimal treatment option is surgical removal. Especially relevant this statement is for neoplasms, the size of which takes less than half of the size of the trachea. If possible, after surgical treatment, the missing part of the trachea is restored.

Treatment of cancer of the trachea does not give effective results. In unresectable cases, combined chemotherapy with addition in the form of carboplatin or nedaplatin with simultaneous radiation exposure is performed. Individual cases of the disease allow only brachytherapy.

If the tumor can not be removed, the airway is expanded with an artificial tube inserted inside the trachea. This is called the trachyronchronic stent of the respiratory tract.

How to make a diagnosis

Most often, patients are sure that they are turning to a doctor with a long cold, bronchitis or asthma. If the doctor gets a reason to doubt the patient's condition, then he appoints additional examinations. Usually these are the following procedures:

1. Laryngoscopy, which makes it possible to detect neoplasm in the upper part of the trachea.
2. Tracheotomy, which allows a small incision to examine the internal state of the trachea.
3. X-ray with contrast, to determine the location of the tumor.
4. Biopsy, consisting in obtaining a sample of tumor tissue for histology and cytology.

For more accurate diagnosis, an MRI or CT scan is performed.

Prophylaxis of cancer of the trachea

Preventing any disease is easier than curing it. This means that a person should have an idea of the presence or absence of HPV in the body, it is a human papilloma virus that is at risk of degeneration into an oncological process. In addition, it is advisable deliberately to give up smoking, especially after forty years, when the body reacts more sharply to external influence. Categorically contraindicated smoking to people who have suffered other types of cancer. Excellent prevention of malignant neoplasms is physical activity, walking, regular exercise without overexertion, proper nutrition and observance of a certain mode of life.

It is necessary to temper and carry out the prevention of bronchitis and asthma. In time, detect and treat diseases of the respiratory system. Once a year, every person should undergo a preventive visit to a doctor who, if suspected of having a disease, will send to the appropriate specialist.

Medical predictions

To make a prognosis for recovery, the doctor must take into account a number of factors. The histological structure of education, the degree of occlusion of the lumen of the trachea, the tendency to relapse, the neglect of the process are assessed. Despite the fact that the cancer of the trachea is very dangerous, with timely treatment it is possible to recover.

If a patient has a suspicion of cancer of the trachea, symptoms, signs should be studied. The patient should be examined, 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, more effectively.