A Case of Tracheal Stenosis Induced by Mucosa-associated Lymphatic Tissue Lymphoma: Effective Treatment with Argon Plasma Coagulation

Abstract

Background. Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT) lymphoma localized in the trachea or bronchus is a rare disease. The prognosis of primary tracheobronchial MALT lymphoma is reportedly good. However, the progression of symptoms associated with tracheal stenosis necessitates tracheal dilatation or bronchodilation. Case Presentation. A 75-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a 10 month history of dyspnea on exertion, and chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a tracheal tumor. The tracheal tumor occupied 80% of the tracheal lumen. We performed a bronchoscopic biopsy to establish a diagnosis and argon plasma coagulation (APC) therapy for tracheal dilatation. A histopathological diagnosis of MALT lymphoma was made. The patient underwent positron emission tomography-CT and a bone marrow biopsy and was diagnosed with primary tracheobronchial MALT lymphoma. Conclusion. Bronchoscopic APC is a useful diagnostic biopsy technique. It also proved useful for tracheal dilatation of MALT lymphoma of tracheal origin with tracheal stenosis.