Endobronchial lipomatous polyp: a rare benign tumor of the lung.

Salim Surani,Saherish Surani,Karen Allen,Joseph Varon

doi:10.1155/2014/240834

Abstract

Endobronchial lipomatous polyp is a rare nonmalignant tumor of the lung. It comprises 5% of the benign lung tumor, with the majority of benign tumors being hamartoma. Lipomatous polyp often leads to endobronchial lesion, associated with postobstructive pneumonia, hemoptysis, and atelectasis. We hereby present a case and discussion of an elderly man with endobronchial lipomatous polyp, presenting as recurrent pneumonia.

Highlights

While being itself benign, can lead to other complications associated with bronchial obstruction, including atelectasis, pleural effusion, loss of lung volume, and the symptoms as hemoptysis, cough, and dyspnea [4]
In view of some abnormality in bronchus intermedius, the patient underwent bronchoscopy, which showed the endobronchial lesion in the right bronchus intermedius, which was obstructing the entrance of right middle and lower lobes (Figure 2)
Previous conventional wisdom dictated that lipomas were slow-growing and needed only distant follow-up, but some case reports have challenged this with evidence that rapid growth can occur [6]

Summary

Introduction

Less than 5% of lung tumors are benign [1, 2]. The majority of fat-containing benign lung tumors are hamartomas [3], with lipomas only making up to 0.1–0.5% of all benign lung tumors [3,4,5]. While being itself benign, can lead to other complications associated with bronchial obstruction, including atelectasis, pleural effusion, loss of lung volume, and the symptoms as hemoptysis, cough, and dyspnea [4]. We hereby present a case report of a patient with a recurrent pneumonia as evidenced on chest radiograph, as well as symptoms thereof, including cough productive of white sputum and dyspnea

Case Report

Findings

Discussion