To investigate the MSCT imaging and clinical manifestations of primary tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma, so as to improve the diagnosis rate of patients with this disease.

A retrospective analysis of the clinical data and MSCT signs of 12 patients with pathologically confirmed tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma in our hospital from June 2011 to November 2021.

Among the 12 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, the onset was non-specific, and the most common clinical manifestations were cough, expectoration, hemoptysis and dyspnea. The tumors were all single on MSCT, and the lesions were located in the trachea in 6 cases, the left main bronchus in 5 cases, and the trachea in the right lower lobe in 1 case; 9 cases were intracavitary type and 1 case was diffuse infiltration type. 2 cases were peripheral nodular type. The lesions caused different degrees of bronchial stenosis, and some were accompanied by obstructive pneumonia and obstructive atelectasis. The longitudinal invasion ranged from 21 mm to 60mm, with an average infiltration length of (37.7±11.8)mm; The trachea was invaded more than 1/2 ring in 7 cases. Enhancement scan showed mild to moderate delayed enhancement. Mediastinal lymph nodes were enlarged in 4 patients.

Tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma is mostly seen in young and middle-aged patients. It grows infiltratively along the tracheobronchial wall, and the wall thickens to varying degrees, presenting nodular and poly-like protruding into the lumen, with mild to moderate delayed enhancement. MSCT signs have certain characteristics, which provide the basis for its clinical treatment.