Tracheal cancer - a rare and deadly but potentially curable disease that also affects younger people - Key findings and take-home message

Sep 24, 2026

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Tracheal cancer has a low incidence, limited clinical experience among physicians, and potentially low diagnostic awareness. Updated national data were compiled from all tracheal cancers registered in Norway from 2000–2020 to evaluate incidence, patient and tumour characteristics, treatment approaches, and survival outcomes. Incidence rates were low and survival improved yet remained poor, with key independent prognostic factors identified. Curative intent relies mainly on surgery with low mortality, requiring earlier recognition and diagnosis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Objectives

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Results

Conclusions

Keywords and abbreviations

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 2023, 64(1), ezad244 ORIGINAL ARTICLE [https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezad244](https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezad244) Advance Access publication 22 June 2023 Cite this article as: Nilssen Y, Solberg S, Brustugun OT, Møller B, Sundset A, Wahl SGF et al. Tracheal cancer: a rare and deadly but potentially curable disease that also affects younger people. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2023; doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezad244. Tracheal cancer: a rare and deadly but potentially curable disease that also affects younger people Yngvar Nilssen a, Steinar Solberg a,b,*, Odd Terje Brustugunc,d, Bjørn Møllera, Arve Sundsete, Sissel Gyrid Freim Wahlf and ˚Aslaug Hellandd,g a Department of Registration, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway b Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway c Section of Oncology, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway d Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway e Department of Pulmology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway f Department of Pathology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway g Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway * Corresponding author. Department of Registration, Cancer Registry of Norway, Box 5313 Majorstuen, 0304 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47-922-922-87; e-mail: [stsg@kreftregisteret. no](stsg@kreftregisteret. no) (S. Solberg). Received 1 February 2023; received in revised form 26 June 2023; accepted 21 June 2023 | Key ques􀀂on | | --- | | Have the incidence, treatment, and outcome for patients with tracheal cancer improved, based on national data? | | Key ﬁndings | | --- | | The incidence is low (0 .08 / 100 000 / year) . The survival has improved but is still poor (31 .7% 5-year overall survival) . | Take-home message As curative treatment, mainly surgery with low mortality can be offered, increased awareness and diagnosis in early stage are essential. Abstract OBJECTIVES: The incidence of tracheal cancer is low, few clinicians get much experience and the awareness may be low. Recent data on the treatment and outcome are limited. The aim of the present study was to present updated, national data on the incidence, characteristics, treatment and outcome for patients with tracheal cancer. METHODS: All tracheal cancers registered at the Cancer Registry of Norway in 2000–2020 were extracted. The patient and tumour characteristics age, sex, stage, histology and treatment modality (surgery and radiotherapy) were examined. Overall, median and relative survival were estimated. Cox regression models were used to identify independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: The 77 patients diagnosed with tracheal cancer equals a crude incidence rate and an age-standardized incidence rate of 0.075 and 0.046 per 100,000 per year respectively. The mean age was 63.8 years (range: 26–94). The numerical preponderance of men (n = 41) isnot statistically signiﬁcant. Eighteen patients (23.4%) were diagnosed in the localized stage. The 5-year overall survival was 31.7%[95% VC The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by)nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please [contact journals.permissions@oup.com](contact journals.permissions@oup.com) THORACIC 2 Y. Nilssen et al. / European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery conﬁdence interval (CI): 21.0–42.9], and in those treated with surgical resection or curative radiotherapy, it was 53.7%(95% CI: 26.1–75.0) and 37.8%(95% CI: 18.8–56.7), respectively. Age, histologi

FAQs

What was the study’s main objective regarding tracheal cancer?

To provide updated national data on the incidence, characteristics, treatment, and outcomes for patients with tracheal cancer.

How common is tracheal cancer according to the national data?

The incidence is low, reported as approximately 0.075 per 100,000 per year (age-standardized 0.046 per 100,000 per year).

What treatment approach is emphasized as potentially curative, and why is early diagnosis important?

Mainly surgery with low mortality is offered as curative treatment; increased awareness and diagnosis at an earlier stage are essential because most patients are not diagnosed early enough for curative options.

Sep 24, 2026

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