Stridor: a rare presentation of oesophageal malignancy

• Published in: BMJ case reports 2015-11, Vol.2015, p.bcr2015212408
• Main Authors: Bartolo, Kyra, Fsadni, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Airway Obstruction - etiology; Bronchoscopy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy; Diagnosis, Differential; Esophageal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Esophageal Neoplasms - therapy; Europe (West); Fatal Outcome; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - diagnosis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - therapy; Palliative Care; Respiratory Sounds - etiology; Stomach Neoplasms - diagnosis; Stomach Neoplasms - therapy; Unusual Presentation of More Common Disease/Injury; White
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2015-212408

A middle-aged ex-smoker, with a history of curative surgery for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma 7 years earlier, presented to the casualty department at Mater Dei Hospital with stridor and a 2-week history of progressively worsening dyspnoea. A thoracic CT scan showed the presence of a posterior mediastinal mass involving the upper half of the stomach and posterior wall of the trachea. Histology of an exophytic ulcerating lesion at 25 cm of the oesophagus was that of squamous cell carcinoma. Bronchoscopy performed to ascertain the cause of the stridor showed the trachea to be 70% occluded. The patient showed symptomatic improvement with radiotherapy and intravenous dexamethasone; however, he passed away a few weeks later due to respiratory failure secondary to tracheal occlusion.