[Schwannoma of the trachea: discussion of a case and review of the literature].

The authors report the case of a 71 years old woman admitted for severe asthmatic condition of recent origin. The chest X ray showed the opaque image of a tumour against the clearness of the trachea. Its benignity was confirmed by endoscopy. A complete surgical exerese is impossible because of the friable nature of the tumour but was attempted to relieve a worsening respiratory distress. A new intervention was necessary because of a mediastinitis; the patient died of renal insufficiency. Only one observation of schwannoma and 3 cases of tracheo-bronchial schwannoma were found in the literature. The nosological place of these tumours was debated particularly in their relation with Recklinghausen disease. Diagnosis was usually done only a few years after an endoscopic exploration. Some symptoms could nevertheless make up a "tracheal syndrome". Endoscopic exeresis of the tumour successfully tried on some cases should be attempted on a first step.