Successful Resection of an Endobronchial Pleomorphic Adenoma Using Cryotherapy: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Pleomorphic adenomas are very rare benign bronchial tumors. They are typically either removed surgically, or if not amenable to surgery, via therapeutic bronchoscopy. We present the first case of an endobronchial pleomorphic adenoma removed by cryotherapy. Case Report: This is the case of a 54-year-old man with a right middle lobe pleomorphic adenoma that was detected incidentally during a bronchoscopy, which was performed due to acute respiratory failure and presence of ground glass opacities on imaging. The tumor led to a chronic cough and partial right middle lobe atelectasis. It was resected successfully using endobronchial cryotherapy without any noted complications. There has been no recurrence of disease one year after the intervention. Conclusion: This is the first report in the literature of a pleomorphic adenoma successfully removed via cryotherapy without recurrence. Endobronchial cryotherapy appears to be an effective and safe method of removing endobronchial pleomorphic adenomas.