The trachea (also known as the windpipe) is the tube that connects your voice box (also known as the larynx) to your lungs. Tracheal cancer is rare, and certain types can grow slowly, making tracheal cancer difficult to diagnose and treat. Our specialists in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, medical and radiation oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, and reconstructive surgery work as a team to create a personalized treatment plan for your type and stage of tracheal cancer. We aim to diagnose and treat your cancer promptly and preserve your function.
The most common type of tracheal cancer, is fast-growing and often linked to a history of smoking.
The next most common type of tracheal cancer, and a slow-growing tumor.
Often seen in people who also have lung cancer.
A type of cancerous tracheal tumor, which develops in neuroendocrine cells.
Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.
A biopsy can determine whether you have tracheal cancer and what type. This is done in an operating room while you are under general anesthesia. First, a doctor inserts a thin, lighted tube into your mouth and down into your trachea (called an endoscopy) or lungs (called a bronchoscopy) to examine the tumor and remove a small sample of tissue. Then a pathologist examines the sample under a microscope to look for the presence of cancer.
CT and MRI scans can help locate and determine the extent of the cancer. The latest advances in technology, such as 3D reconstruction, offer superior images and may detect cancer earlier with less exposure to radiation. PET-CT scans are used in advanced cases to determine whether the cancer has spread.
Your doctor will recommend a treatment regimen based on the stage and location of your tracheal cancer.
Surgery is the preferred treatment for tracheal cancer, whenever possible. Highly skilled surgeons remove the part of the trachea containing the cancer. Depending on the type and size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread, they may also remove affected lymph nodes and surrounding tissues.
MRI and CT imaging technology precisely target the tumor, and high-energy X-rays destroy cancer cells. This image-guided approach, used before and after surgery, minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Medicines kill or slow the tumor’s growth. Chemotherapy may be recommended if your cancer has spread.
Where you receive your cancer care is important. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our cancer program is nationally ranked, and the highest-ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2025–2026.
As a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are recognized for exploring new treatment opportunities through ongoing clinical trials. We offer you the latest research discoveries before they are available elsewhere.
Our specialists -- including fellowship-trained otolaryngologists who are experts in head-and-neck surgery and reconstruction as well as medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists -- work together to ensure you receive the best possible care. Specially trained nurses, speech pathologists, and respiratory therapists help you recover and resume your daily activities.
Our radiologists are specially trained and highly experienced in reading images to detect tracheal cancer. We use MRI and CT technology, which produce superior quality images with lower doses of radiation exposure.
Our comprehensive support services range from helping you minimize the side effects of cancer treatment to helping you and your family cope with the emotional and psychological effects of diagnosis and treatment. View our cancer support groups in our event calendar.
Our Duke Cancer Center features spacious waiting areas, a “quiet room,” large infusion rooms, and a rooftop garden area where patients -- depending on their treatment regimen -- can receive chemotherapy outdoors.
