A 29-year-old patient suffering from a rare tracheal tumor was successfully operated at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi.

In a rare case, a 29-year-old man was successfully operated for a tumor in his windpipe, at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. Initially, the patient had complained of chest pain and progressive swelling in his neck. After suffering for over 2 months he consulted a local doctor who diagnosed him with Tuberculosis, but his condition did not improve with TB medication. As next steps he underwent bronchoscopy that revealed a large mass in his windpipe causing 80% blockage. With his condition deteriorating due to acute breathlessness and fluctuating oxygen levels he was admitted to a local hospital of Faridabad.

With no respite in his condition he was referred to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi where he was admitted under the supervision of Dr Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant, Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. Here, he was immediately put on ventilator to first stabilise his oxygen level. However, when further examined by Dr Suresh Singh Naruka, Senior Consultant, ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi for his tumor, he was recommended an immediate tumor removal surgery.

Dr Suresh Singh Naruka, Senior Consultant, ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi said, “When this patient was admitted to Apollo he had developed a tumour which was causing 80% blockage of the neck. Hence after stabilizing his oxygen levels an immediate surgery was carried out in order to maintain the airway. This surgery in particular was challenging. Due to the size of the tumor, there was no space for air to pass into the lungs and patient saturation rate was dropping very fast whenever we were doing any instrumentation. The procedure took 3 hours but we were able to successfully remove the tumor. Post-operatively the patient was kept in ICU for further monitoring and as he was successfully weaned off from mechanical ventilation, he was discharged on 9th November, 2022. Post-surgery, the biopsy of wind pipe mass revealed a cancer of lymphoid cells known as Lymphoma. Lymphoma is extremely rare to find in wind pipe as it comprises only 0.2% to 0.3% of all wind pipe tumors. Basis the presence of lymphoma he is undergoing chemotherapy as further management and is keeping well now.”

Speaking on the same, Dr Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant, Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi said, “Early and correct diagnosis has the best opportunity for a positive heath outcome. Sometimes, with patient getting delayed medical care the condition can become life-threatening. Same was the case with this 29-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, due to delay in treatment & wrong diagnosis, the tumor increased in size and caused nearly complete blockage of the wind pipe. With his condition deteriorating he was admitted on 29th October, 2022 at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. To maintain his airway, he underwent urgent tracheostomy and bronchoscopy followed by tumor removal surgery.”

The patient is still visiting the hospital for follow-up and management of Lymphoma through chemotherapy.