CASE REPORT article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Thoracic Oncology
Case Report: Long-Term Survival of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma with Central Airway Stenosis Treated by Bronchoscopic Ablation Combined with Para-Toluenesulfonamide Injection
Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Abstract
Patient concerns: A 70-year-old man with a primary tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma (TACC) located at 5 cm of the tracheal process. Interventions: We adopted bronchoscopic ablation technology, including cryotherapy of probe tumor reduction and thermal ablation, which lasted for 7 years. After that, flexible mechanical tumor reduction was used to remove the tumor, and para-toluenesulfonamide (PTS) was injected to treat any residual tumors. During the treatment, we found that scarring-induced stenosis of the trachea near the superior aspect of the tumor, under these circumstances, we performed bronchoscopic laser treatment to remove scar tissue and relieve central airway obstruction. Outcomes: The combined use of bronchoscopic laser treatment and PTS injection represents a promising treatment, especially suitable for patients who are not suitable for surgical removal. This case highlights the importance of individualized treatment strategies in managing complex airway obstruction, improving the quality of life of patients, and providing symptom relief for patients with advanced tumors.
Summary
Keywords
Airway Obstruction, Brachytherapy, Debulking, Electrocautery, laser, para-toluenesulfonamide, tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma
Received
21 December 2025
Accepted
20 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Wu and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Li Zhang
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