Two Cases of Diagnosis and Removal of Endobronchial Hamartoma by Cryotherapy via Flexible Bronchoscopy

Pulmonary Endobronchial Hamartoma Presenting With Post-obstructive Pneumonia

Pulmonary hamartomas (PH) are rare but are the most common benign tumors found in the lungs. They are slow-growing and are usually found incidentally on chest imaging during the sixth decade of life. Approximately 10% of pulmonary hamartomas are endobronchial. Rarely, pulmonary hamartomas can cause a spectrum of pulmonary symptoms depending on their size and location. We present a case of endobronchial hamartoma causing airway obstruction and recurrent post-obstructive pneumonia.

Image of a thawed frozen specimen obtained using a cryoprobe floated with oil droplets in normal saline: An endobronchial lipomatous hamartoma image

Hereby, we present a rare case of a resected endobronchial tumour that floated or showed oil droplets in saline. In this study, we report an interesting image related to endobronchial lipomatous hamartoma cryotherapy.

Interventional therapy via flexible bronchoscopy in the management of foreign body-related occlusive endobronchial granulation tissue formation in children

BACKGROUND

Occlusive granulation tissue formation, as one of the most common sequelae of chronic foreign body aspiration, can cause tracheobronchial obstruction and delayed fixed airway stenosis necessitating interventions. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of interventional therapy via flexible bronchoscopy for treatment of granulation tissue related airway obstruction secondary to foreign body aspiration in children.

METHOD

Patients with long-term foreign body related granulation tissue were treated with flexible bronchoscopy therapeutic modalities, including forceps, cryotherapy, holmium laser, and balloon dilatation. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by clinical symptoms and endoscopic manifestations.

RESULTS

A total of eight patients with granulation tissue hyperplasia caused by foreign body in bronchus, with a median age of 29.5 (range, 18-54) months, underwent interventional therapy between January 2016 and December 2019. Four patients received forceps and CO₂ cryotherapy and one patient required forceps only. The remaining three patients received holmium laser combined with CO₂ cryotherapy, and one of them required additional balloon dilatation. Four cases required a second cryotherapy procedure, and one case received three cryotherapy procedures for extensive granulation tissue. The treatment efficacy was 100% without complications.

CONCLUSION

Interventional procedure via flexible bronchoscopy is a safe, reliable, and effective method in the management of tracheobronchial obstruction and stenosis caused by foreign body-related granulation tissue hyperplasia. It is worthy of clinical application.

Cryodebulking of endobronchial hamartoma via fibreoptic bronchoscopy and literature review

Endobronchial hamartoma is a rare tumour. We report a 65-year-old woman with a history of recurrent pneumonia. Bronchoscopy revealed a 1 cm endobronchial mass obstructing the left upper lobe bronchus. Histopathological examination was consistent with a pulmonary hamartoma. This lesion was successfully debulked endoscopically with the use of a flexible cryoprobe without any complications. This case highlights both the importance of investigating recurrent pneumonia and the usefulness of endoscopic recanalisation in an obstructed segmental bronchus.

Efficacy and safety of flexible endoscopic intervention via laryngeal mask airway for endobronchial hamartoma removal

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical characteristics, efficacy and safety of flexible endoscopic intervention for endobronchial hamartoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirteen patients with endobronchial hamartoma who underwent flexible endoscopic intervention at a single center were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical characteristics and efficacy of flexible endoscopic intervention were described.

RESULTS

Nine patients were cured after one single flexible endoscopic intervention, three patients underwent second flexible endoscopic interventions due to late tumor recurrence, while one patient who eventually became stable with a 40% stenosis of the airway lumen, received a third intervention because of two relapses. Pneumothorax occurred in one patient who was cured after oxygen therapy. There were no serious complications such as massive hemorrhage, airway perforation, airway ignition and suffocation associated with the therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Flexible endoscopic intervention appeared to be safe and effective for the treatment of patients with endobronchial hamartoma.

Prognosis of patients with primary malignant main stem bronchial tumors: 7,418 cases based on the SEER database

Background

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for patients with malignant main stem bronchial tumors (MBTs) and to develop a nomogram for predicting prognosis in those patients using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Method

A process was used for case screening from the SEER database. The effect of prognostic factors on survival was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test, a competing risk model, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model. A nomogram was established for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients with MBTs.

Results

A total of 7,418 cases were included in this study. Age, gender, pathologic grade, histologic type, tumor size, involvement of lymph nodes, tumor extension, chemotherapy, and surgery were identified as independent risk factors by univariate and multivariate analyses. A nomogram was established based on the results of the Cox model, which was validated by a C-index of 0.672 (95% CI, 0.664–0.680), and a group of calibration plots.

Conclusion

Age, gender, pathologic grade, histologic type, tumor size, involvement of lymph nodes, tumor extension, chemotherapy, and surgery were independent risk factors for OS of patients with MBTs. A nomogram was formulated to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS in patients with MBTs based on individual clinical characteristics.

Endoscopic treatment of primary benign central airway tumors: Results from a large consecutive case series and decision making flow chart to address bronchoscopic excision

BACKGROUND

Benign tracheo-bronchial neoplasms are rare, but potentially dangerous conditions with life threatening consequences. Tumor removal should be pursued by methods minimizing the procedural stress. The role of endoscopic treatment, as an alternative to open surgery, remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

report the twelve-years endoscopic experience in Rome, Italy. Fifty-seven benign tracheo-bronchial tumors were diagnosed and 130 tracheo-bronchial resections by rigid bronchoscopy performed.

METHODS

we identified histotypes associated with higher recurrence rate and assessed their relationship with gender, age and tracheo-bronchial location. We provided data on safety and complications and suggested a decision making flow chart to address the patients to endoscopic resection.

RESULTS

complete eradication after a single procedure without recurrence at 2 years was obtained in 63.1% of cases (36/57). Need of a second intervention within few months but no further recurrence at follow up was seen in a further 8.8% (5/57). Histotypes associated with recurrence were papillomas and inflammatory polyp. Seven patients (12.3%) were addressed to surgery because of multiple recurrence. Ten patients (17.5%) were lost at follow up. In case of recurrence, the bronchial biopsy was always repeated and no malignant transformation was observed. No major complications, pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

endoscopic treatment of benign tracheo bronchial tumors is safe and effective, provided that the procedure is carefully and systematically planned. The rate of eradication is satisfactory and the incidence of complications negligible. This will encourage this approach as first line treatment especially in patients, frequently elderly people, having increased surgical risk due to concomitant respiratory failure or major comorbidities.

Endobronchial hamartoma as a cause of pneumonia

Patient: Male, 66

Final Diagnosis: Endobronchial hamartoma

Symptoms: Fever

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Flexible bronchoscopy • surgical resection

Specialty: Pulmonology