Abstract
Lymphomatous involvement of the airway causing stridor is a rare but frightening presentation of an eminently treatable condition. We describe a 24-year-old woman with tracheal non-Hodgkin lymphoma who was initially diagnosed with asthma, but subsequently presented with near-fatal acute upper airway obstruction because of a tracheal Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)+ anaplastic T-cell lymphoma. The obstructing tumor was extricated by means of rigid bronchoscopy. After six cycles of Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisolone chemotherapy, the patient went into complete clinical remission. A high index of suspicion in patients with dyspnoea and wheeze unresponsive to bronchodilators is crucial in early diagnosis of tracheal tumors.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
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Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
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Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
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Female
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Humans
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Lymphoma, T-Cell / complications*
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Lymphoma, T-Cell / diagnosis
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Lymphoma, T-Cell / drug therapy
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Lymphoma, T-Cell / radiotherapy
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Prednisone / therapeutic use
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Remission Induction
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Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis
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Respiratory Insufficiency / drug therapy
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Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology*
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Respiratory Insufficiency / radiotherapy
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Tracheal Neoplasms / complications*
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Tracheal Neoplasms / diagnosis
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Tracheal Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Tracheal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Vincristine / therapeutic use
Substances
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Biomarkers, Tumor
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Vincristine
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Doxorubicin
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Cyclophosphamide
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ALK protein, human
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Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Prednisone