AN OPERATIVE CASE OF ENDOBRONCHIAL HAMARTOMA

Abstract

A relatively rare case of endobronchial hamartoma is described together with a review of the literature. The case was a 55-year-old female who presented with cough and fever. From chest X-ray film, tomogram and CT, the patient was diagnosed as obstructive pneumonia of S6. Bronchoscopy comfirmed a tumor completely obstructing the entrance of B6, and biopsy revealed a proliferation of mesenchymal cells. Possible malignancy could not be denied, operation was performed. The broad-based tumor was found to develop at the furcation between B6 and B10, accordingly right lower lobectomy was carried out. Postoperative histologic findings revealed a cartilaginous endobronchial hamartoma.Endobronchial hamartoma has been reported in 60 patients in the Japanese literature, it is predominant in men aged from 40 to 60 years, and most commonly presents with some symptoms associated with obstructive pneumonia. The definite diagnosis for this tumor is rarely made preoperatively, and inevitable excessive treatments such as lobectomy are often performed. We should be circumspect in dealing with the hamartoma because of a possible progression to malignancy or association of lung cancer, but the tumor is essentially benign, in that some more limited operation or laser treatment should be considered.