Although the manifestations of tracheal cancers are generally known, these rare subtle tumors are often diagnosed late in their clinical course and at an advanced stage. Whereas many reports have dealt with the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment, little is known about the ultimate course and effectiveness of methods of treatment.
The present study was undertaken in an effort not only to define further the clinical and pathologic features of primary tracheal cancers as they relate to prognosis but also to compare the results of various forms of treatment, both as to duration of survival and the quality of palliation achieved.
Scope of Present Study
The present study encompasses a 30-year period, 1936 through 1965, at the Mayo Clinic. We reviewed the available clinical and pathologic material of all patients whose conditions were diagnosed as malignant involvement of the trachea. All tumors arising outside the trachea were excluded. For the