Mucous gland adenoma of the trachea resected with an endoscopic neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser.

We report a case of mucous gland adenoma of the trachea in a 73-year-old male revealed by bronchoscopy. The tumor was resected with a contact neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) laser after five years of observation. The tumor was histologically peculiar because it presented numerous cystically dilated, or irregularly shaped mucus-filled glands lined with cuboidal or tall columnar cells. In some parts, the lining cells of the tumor showed papillary proliferation. We diagnosed this tumor as a mucous gland adenoma of the trachea. We review the clinical features of this rare tumor and discuss the usefulness of the laser in the diagnosis and the therapy.