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Primary tracheal tumors are very rare and the literature on this subject is limited. Due to their rarity and diversity, the provision of patient care in terms of optimal management poses a considerable challenge. There are no unequivocal guidelines concerning the treatment in patients with local or distant disease. The most common types of primary tracheal tumors are squamous cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea is 2-4 times more common in men than in women and develops primarily in the sixth and seventh decades of life. It is strongly associated with tobacco smoking. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea occurs with similar frequency in men and women, and is most common in the fourth and fifth decades of life. The etiology of this type is unknown, however it is not associated with tobacco smoking. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is characterized by submucosal and perineural spread. Treatment of patients with primary tracheal tumors requires a multidisciplinary approach. Optimal treatment of localized tumors is based on surgery or radiotherapy. If distant metastases are present the therapeutic palliative methods are: chemotherapy, palliative radiotherapy or palliative surgery. The prognosis of patients with primary tracheal tumors is determined by several factors. Histological diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma, good performance status, and complete resection have been identified as favorable prognostic factors. Despite intensive treatment, the 5-year survival rate for primary tracheal tumors is not satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The TNM (tumor, node, metastases) staging system established by the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer is commonly used to select a treatment method for patients with cancers, guide adjuvant therapy after surgery, and predict the prognosis. It is an essential tool for working with cancer patients in everyday medical practice. Currently, the eighth edition of the TNM staging system is used. Primary tracheal tumors are uncommon neoplasms. Probably due to their rarity, neither an AJCC staging system nor other, widely accepted staging system exists for primary tracheal cancers. Only a few studies stated their proposed guidelines for the staging of tracheal neoplasms. The absence of a universally adopted staging system makes it difficult for clinicians to assess tracheal cancers properly. This makes it challenging to conduct analyses and compare the results of published works. A standard classification system would help assess and qualify patients for treatment and, perhaps, establish uniform indications for adjuvant treatment. All this could contribute to an increase in the proportion of patients qualified for radical surgery, which is the preferred treatment method. Due to the low incidence of primary tracheal neoplasms, there is no uniform system for staging of this disease. Our retrospective analysis based on registry data included 89 patients diagnosed with primary tracheal cancer at the National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, Poland, between January 2000 and December 2016. We analyzed demographic, clinical, pathological, therapeutic, and survival data. The staging—for the purpose of our analysis—was performed retrospectively on the basis of imaging results. Tumor (T) category was defined as a disease confined to the trachea or lesion derived from the trachea and spreading to adjacent structures and organs. Node (N) and metastases (M) categories were divided into absence/presence of metastasis in regional lymph nodes and the absence/presence of distant metastasis. Survival analysis was performed depending on the clinical presentation of these features. There was a significant difference in overall survival depending on the T, N, M categories in the entire group. In the group of patients undergoing radical treatment, the T and N categories had a statistically significant impact on overall survival. In the group of patients treated with palliative aim, only the T category had an impact on overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed statistical significance for the T category in patients undergoing radical and those receiving palliative treatment. The assessment of the anatomical extent of lesions may help decide about treatment options and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. We aimed to assess the prognostic significance of the sex of patients with primary tracheal tumors based on our own results as well as the literature review. Material and methods. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 89 patients with primary tracheal tumors treated at the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, Poland, between January 2000 and December 2016. Men and women were compared in terms of overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival. Results. In the entire study group, the median overall survival was 61.30 months in women and 8.55 months in men (p < 0.0001). 5-year overall survival rates were 2.1% in men versus 50.6% in women (p < 0.0001). Among those receiving radical treatment, women had improved survival rates compared with men. Sex was an independent prognostic factor in both the total study population and among those undergoing radical treatment. Conclusions. According to our results, women with primary tracheal tumors have significantly better survival than men. Because female sex is an independent prognostic factor in patients with primary tracheal tumors, the ratio of women to men should be taken into consideration in reports comparing the outcomes of different treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]