{
  "abstract": "Background: Primary tracheal lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is an extremely rare malignancy (<2% of tracheal tumors) strongly associated with Epstein–Barr virus. Tracheal tumors can mimic asthma due to dynamic airway obstruction, often leading to diagnostic delay. The flow-volume loop provides critical clues to central airway obstruction but is frequently overlooked.\n\nCase Presentation: We report a 30-year-old non-smoking male initially misdiagnosed with asthma, whose refractoriness to inhaled corticosteroids prompted spirometry. The flow-volume loop revealed a plateau pattern in both inspiratory and expiratory limbs, consistent with fixed upper airway obstruction which guided chest computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy to identify a tracheal polypoid mass. Pathological examination confirmed LELC with positive EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBER) in situ hybridization. The patient underwent endoscopic resection followed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) tracheal resection-anastomosis with lymphadenectomy. Postoperative pulmonary function testing at 1-year follow-up demonstrated complete normalization of the flow-volume loop morphology, with FEV1 (Forced expiratory volume in 1 s) improved from 0.91L to 3.62L(+298%) and PEF (peak expiratory flow) from 2.03L/s to 6.76 L/s (+233%). The patient remained asymptomatic without recurrence at 1-year follow-up.\n\nConclusion: This case underscores that, in young patients with asthma-like symptoms refractory to conventional therapy, flow-volume loop analysis should not be deferred, as it can unmask central airway obstruction and expedite the diagnosis of rare tracheal malignancies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Longgang District Central Hospital , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": "case report",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shan Xiao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sida Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jintao Ou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yan Shen"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fv6hnv9a9e0fq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fmed.2026.1965664",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13720881/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "fv6hnv9a9e0fq",
  "issns": [
    "2296-858X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13720881",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Case Report"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2740|Tracheal and airway disorders"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222722018",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13720881/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13720881",
  "pmid": "42964931",
  "published": "2026-10-16",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fv6hnv9a9e0fq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:21:36Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13720881",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13720881"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:21:41Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13720881",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1965664"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2740|Tracheal and airway disorders",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Primary tracheal lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma in a young non-smoking male: a case report highlighting the diagnostic value of flow-volume loop",
  "title_text": "Primary tracheal lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma in a young non-smoking male: a case report highlighting the diagnostic value of flow-volume loop",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-03T12:21:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fv6hnv9a9e0fq",
  "venue": "Frontiers in medicine",
  "versions": []
}