BACKGROUND: Benign tracheo-bronchial @entity5 are rare, but potentially dangerous conditions with life threatening consequences. @entity5 removal should be pursued by methods minimizing the procedural stress. The role of endoscopic treatment, as an alternative to open surgery, remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: report the twelve-years endoscopic experience in Rome, Italy. Fifty-seven benign tracheo- @entity5 were diagnosed and 130 tracheo-bronchial resections by rigid bronchoscopy performed. METHODS: we identified histotypes associated with higher recurrence rate and assessed their relationship with gender, age and tracheo-bronchial location. We provided data on safety and complications and suggested a decision making flow chart to address the @entity1 to endoscopic resection. RESULTS: complete eradication after a single procedure without recurrence at 2 years was obtained in 63.1% of cases (36/57). Need of a second intervention within few months but no further recurrence at follow up was seen in a further 8.8% (5/57). Histotypes associated with recurrence were @entity1185 and @entity1127 . Seven @entity1 (12.3%) were addressed to surgery because of multiple recurrence. Ten @entity1 (17.5%) were lost at follow up. In case of recurrence, the bronchial biopsy was always repeated and no malignant transformation was observed. No major complications, pneumothorax or @entity14303 occurred. CONCLUSIONS: endoscopic treatment of benign tracheo @entity5 is safe and effective, provided that the procedure is carefully and systematically planned. The rate of eradication is satisfactory and the incidence of complications negligible. This will encourage this approach as first line treatment especially in @entity1 , frequently elderly @entity1 , having increased surgical risk due to concomitant @entity1576 or major comorbidities.

Endoscopic treatment of primary XXXX : Results from a large consecutive case series and decision making flow chart to address bronchoscopic excision.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'people'] @entity1127 :: ('MESH:D011127', 'Disease') :: ['inflammatory polyp'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['bronchial tumors', 'Tumor', 'neoplasms'] @entity1185 :: ('MESH:D010212', 'Disease') :: ['papillomas'] @entity14303 :: ('MESH:D008478', 'Disease') :: ['pneumomediastinum'] @entity1576 :: ('MESH:D012131', 'Disease') :: ['respiratory failure']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['benign central airway tumors']
