Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea treated with PET-CT based intensity modulated radiotherapy.

Primary tumors of the trachea are rare and are usually malignant in adults and benign in children. Adenoid cystic carcinoma, which is of salivary gland origin, account for about one thirds of adult primary tracheal tumors. A 49-year-old gentleman presented to us after undergoing a pneumonectomy elsewhere. Computed tomography scan of the thorax at our hospital showed a residual disease in the primary site, size of which was same as that in the preoperative scan. Because there was a compromised respiratory reserve due to pneumonectomy we decided to keep the radiation dose to the remaining lung as low as possible. We treated him by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) directed intensity modulated radiation therapy to a dose of 60 Gy in 30 Fractions over 6 weeks on a linear accelerator. PET helped in exact localization of the target on the planning CT. He tolerated the treatment very well. PET-CT done 1 year posttreatment showed no residual disease. Presently he is disease free with good pulmonary reserve.