Tracheal Cancer

Tracheal cancer starts in the trachea, also called the windpipe. The trachea is the tube that carries air between your nose and mouth and your lungs. It splits into two smaller tubes, one going to each lung, so air can move in and out as you breathe.

Tracheal cancer is rare. Like other cancers, it can grow into nearby tissue and, in some cases, spread to other parts of the body.

Types & Stages

There are a few types of tracheal cancer:

• Squamous cell carcinoma. The most common type. It tends to grow quickly and often develops in the lower part of the trachea. It is more common in men, and smoking is the main risk factor.
   
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma. A less common type that starts in gland tissue. It usually grows slowly and is not linked to smoking.
   
• Carcinoid tumors. A less common type that is usually slow-growing. These are more often found in the airways leading to the lungs than in the trachea itself.

Tracheal cancer is not described with a single simple number. Instead, doctors look at:

• The size of the tumor
• Whether it is blocking the airway
• Whether it has grown into nearby structures
• Whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body

This helps your care team plan the best treatment.

Signs & Symptoms

Tracheal cancer can cause breathing problems and other symptoms that often look like more common airway conditions.

Visit a doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• A cough
• Wheezing or noisy breathing
• A hoarse voice
• Coughing up blood
• Trouble swallowing
• Repeated chest infections

Many of these symptoms can look like asthma, bronchitis or COPD, and they are often caused by conditions that are not cancer. Still, if a symptom is new, lasting, or worries you, talk with a healthcare provider.

Diagnosis

Tracheal cancer can be hard to diagnose, because early symptoms come on slowly and can be mistaken for other airway problems.

Tests and procedures used to diagnose tracheal cancer may include:

• Medical history and exam. Your doctor reviews your symptoms and health history and examines you.
   
• Chest X-ray. This gives a first look at the lungs and trachea.
   
• Imaging tests. A CT scan shows detailed pictures of the area. A PET scan or MRI may also be used to learn more and check whether the cancer has spread.
   
• Laryngoscopy. Your doctor uses a thin, lighted tube to look at the upper airway.
   
• Bronchoscopy. A thin tube with a small camera is passed into the airway to examine the trachea and the tubes leading to the lungs.
   
• Biopsy. A small sample of tissue is removed, often during a bronchoscopy, and examined under a microscope by a pathologist. This is the only way to confirm cancer.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the size and location of the tumor, whether the airway is blocked, whether the cancer has spread, and your overall health. Your care team can help explain the benefits and risks of each option.

Treatment may include:

• Surgery. This is the preferred treatment when the tumor can be safely removed. The surgeon removes the tumor along with a small amount of nearby healthy tissue, then reconnects the upper and lower parts of the trachea.
   
• Bronchoscopic treatments. When surgery is not possible, several procedures can be done through a bronchoscope to open the airway and help control symptoms. These may include placing a stent to keep the airway open, using laser therapy or removing tumor tissue through the scope.
   
• Radiation therapy. Radiation uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. It may be used alone or after surgery. In select cases, a form of internal radiation called brachytherapy may be used, where treatment is delivered directly to the tumor.
   
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be combined with radiation for larger tumors that cannot be removed with surgery.

Clinical trials may also be an option. These studies test new treatments or new ways to use current ones.

Ask your care team whether a clinical trial may be right for you.

Causes & Risk Factors

The exact cause of tracheal cancer is not always known. Some factors may raise the risk, including:

• Smoking. This is the main risk factor, especially for squamous cell carcinoma.
   
• Being male. Tracheal cancer is more common in men, especially the squamous cell type.
   
• Older age. It can occur at any age but is more common in adults, often between 50 and 74.
   
• Workplace exposures. Some research suggests a possible link to welding fumes.
   
• Prior head and neck cancer. People who have had a head and neck cancer may have a higher risk.

Some other possible links have been suggested, but they are not well proven.

Having a risk factor does not mean you will develop tracheal cancer, and some people with the disease have no clear risk factors. Talk with your healthcare provider about your personal risk.

Screening

There is no routine screening test or program for tracheal cancer.

Because there is no screening test, it is important to pay attention to your body and report symptoms that do not go away, such as ongoing breathing trouble, a lasting cough, hoarseness, or repeated chest infections.

If you have symptoms that are new, lasting, or unusual for you, talk with a healthcare provider about whether further evaluation is needed.

This information is for general education only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and guidance based on your personal health history.