The Treatment of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (Cylindroma) of the Respiratory Tract by Surgery and Radiation Therapy

The pathologic and clinical features of adenoid cystic carcinomas or cylindromas of the tracheobronchial tree have been reviewed and compared with certain other bronchial neoplasms. This is a neoplasm of moderately high malignancy with pronounced infiltrative qualities and exhibits metastases in over a third of reported cases. Although the prognosis is often doubtful as to cure, life expectancy may be reckoned in terms of years.

Therapeutic results obtained by surgery and radiotherapy have been evaluated. At the present time one would advocate surgical exploration and resection of these tumors if they are of limited extent. If the tumor cannot be safely removed one may consider abandoning resection and plan palliative therapy by radiologic methods. This applies particularly to tracheal lesions near the carina. The reasons for this viewpoint have been discussed.

Two cases are reported which showed distant metastases. Roentgen therapy directed to the primary and metastatic lesions was of marked palliative benefit to these patients for prolonged periods of time.