CT features of primary tracheobronchial salivary gland tumors

WANG Zhenping; XING Ning

doi:10.20258/j.cnki.1006-9011.2025.03.013

Abstract：Objective To retrospectively analyze the imaging features of primary tracheobronchial salivary gland tumors,so as to improve the understanding and diagnosis of these diseases.Methods CT and pathological data of 36 cases with primary tumors of tracheobronchial salivary gland were retrospectively analyzed.The location,size,shape,density,margin,degree of enhancement and intra tracheal lumen,mediastinal hilar lymph node enlargement,and airway obstruction were analyzed.Re-sults Among the 36 patients,21 cases were adenoid cystic carcinoma(ACC),13 cases were mucoepidermoid carcinoma(MEC)and 2 cases were epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma.ACC was more likely to occur in trachea(18/21),and MEC was more common in bronchus(11/13).In 2 cases of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma,there was 1 case in trachea and 1 case in bronchus.Most MECs showed expansive growth(12/13),presented as nodules or masses with clear boundaries.ACC mostly showed invasive growth(14/21),which was manifested as diffuse or localized wall thickening(P<0.01).16 cases(76.2%)of ACC tumors invaded the bronchial wall and grew into and out of the lumen,while only 1 case(7.7%)of MEC tumors invaded the lumen.Enhanced scanning showed that ACC and MEC were slightly more moderately enhanced 85.7%(18/21)and 61.5%(8/13),respectively.Conclusion Tracheobronchial PSGT is a rare tumor with certain imaging characteristics,with two main pathological types,i.e.,PACC and PMEC.There are significant differences in tumor imaging characteristics.CT plain scan and enhancement are very useful in finding endobronchial masses and assessing the extent of the tumor.They can provide accurate anatomical and hemodynamic information of the tumor,whose final diagnosis,however,requires bronchoscopic biopsy and pathological confirmation.