Endobronchial Mimics of Primary Endobronchial Carcinoma: A Clinical Study of 25 Cases

Endobronchial Lipoma: Case Report and Literature Review

Endobronchial lipomas are rare benign tumors that can cause bronchial obstruction resulting in significant symptoms and post-obstructive parenchymal damage. Accurate diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid unnecessary morbidity and mortality in these patients. We describe one case of endobronchial lipoma at our institution and include a literature review of endobronchial lipoma cases reported during the time period 2003-2018. Treatment has shifted towards bronchoscopic management and away from surgery for the majority of patients; 64.3% of patients in this review had their lipoma resected bronchoscopically, compared to 30% or less in reviews as recent as 2003. Notably, in cases reported since 2010, 72.7% of cases were managed bronchoscopically. Recurrence rates are low following both bronchoscopic and surgical resection.

Therapeutic endobronchial resection of a benign tumor in a patient with cystic fibrosis

This report highlights the usefulness of bronchoscopy in case of recurrent pneumonia with the same localization even in CF patients where the presence of bronchiectasis as promoting factor of infections could delay the diagnosis.

[Endobronchial aspergilloma revealing a bronchial carcinoma]

Endobronchial aspergillosis is a rare presentation of pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients; this raises questions about structural changes inducing airflow stasis in order to colonize the bronchial lumen. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with endobronchial aspergilloma covering a bronchial adenocarcinoma.

Pulmonary solid tumor with coexisting pulmonary aspergillosis: case reports and literature review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The association of noncavitary untreated lung cancer with coexisting pulmonary Aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients is an extremely rare occurrence. The present paper aims to summarize the clinical data, and gives an overview of the current knowledge on the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

METHODS

We report four cases and review seven cases in the literature.

RESULTS

The four cases describe pulmonary solid tumor with coexisting pulmonary Aspergillosis condition. All cases underwent complicated procession for the terminal diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should be alert to underlying malignant disease if airway Aspergillus infection is suspicious in a patient without strong risk factors for invasive fungal disease. On the other hand, when lung cancer is coexisting with airway necrotizing Aspergillosis, clinicians should properly manage these two diseases simultaneously.

Endobronchial metastases from extrathoracic malignancy

PURPOSE

Endobronchial metastasis is defined as documented extrathoracic malignancies metastatic to the endobronchus within a bronchoscopically visible range. Although the clinical and radiologic findings of endobronchial metastasis are similar to primary lung cancer, treatment and prognosis may be different. We hereby investigated the clinical, radiologic and bronchoscopic aspects of endobronchial metastases (EBM) in Korean patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 43 patients with EBM who underwent bronchoscopic biopsies from June 1991 to December 2009 at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea, were analyzed retrospectively. We evaluated clinical, radiologic and bronchoscopic characteristics of EBM.

RESULTS

The patients consisted of 27 males and 16 females and their ages ranged from 18 to 77 years. The common primary cancers related to EBM were rectal (16.3%), colon (11.6%), breast (9.3%) and uterine (9.3%) cancers. The mean interval from diagnosis of primary cancer to EBM was 36 months, and the mean survival duration from diagnosis of EBM was 16.1 months in 33 deceased patients.

CONCLUSION

EBM develop in various types of malignancies at various times with unremarkable manifestations. Therefore, physicians should consider the possibility of EBM, especially if a patient has a history of any malignancy, regardless of respiratory symptoms. Respiratory symptoms related with EBM can be treated by various safe procedures.

Tracheobronchial mucoid pseudotumor

The topic of large mucoid plug of tracheobronchus simulating a tumor lacks scientific research and publication. We report such a case presenting as a pseudo-tumor in an elderly population. The plug was easily removed with a flexible bronchoscope. Microscopically, neither malignant cells nor microbial agents were present in the mucoid plug, confirming the diagnosis of a mucoid pseudotumor. If a collection of mucus, indistinguishable from a true tumor, is detected in the tracheobronchial tree particularly on CT scan, we should consider performing bronchoscopy, as such tracheobronchial mucoid pseudotumor may be distinguished from true tumors by this procedure.

Two cases of endobronchial carcinoid masked by superimposed aspergillosis: a review of the literature of primary lung cancers associated with Aspergillus

We describe 2 cases of endobronchial pulmonary carcinoid tumor with superimposed Aspergillus colonization. The Aspergillus hyphae were associated with fibrin, ulcer debris, and granulomatous inflammation in part masking the carcinoid tumor. Presence of necrotic debris made diagnosis on biopsy difficult, and atypical carcinoid could not be ruled out. The association of carcinoid tumor with aspergillosis is rare and has been reported in 4 other cases thus far. A review of the literature reveals at least 35 cases of lung carcinoma with coexisting Aspergillus upon presentation. Most of these carcinomas are either cavitary squamous cell or adenocarcinomas harboring an aspergilloma. The other carcinomas are associated with bronchial obstruction as in carcinoids or are a minor component of a preexisting cavity raising the possibility of "scar carcinoma." As in aspergillomas not associated with carcinoma, upper lobe involvement predominates. Diagnosis can be challenging with delayed discovery of underlying neoplasm leading to suboptimal treatment.

Endobronchial metastasis from adrenocortical carcinoma

Lung parenchymal metastases are common manifestations; however, endobronchial metastasis is rare. We present herein a case of endobronchial metastasis from adrenocortical carcinoma. In the English language literature, this is the first case with such rare metastasis from adrenocortical carcinoma diagnosed antemortem. Although very rare, physicians should keep in mind the possibility of endobronchial metastasis in patients with a history of extrapulmonary malignancy including adrenocortical carcinoma.