Endobronchial tumor in children: Unusual finding in recurrent pneumonia, report of three cases

Endobronchial lesion in a premature neonate

Endobronchial and endotracheal tumours are rare in the paediatric population, especially in neonates. The common presentation is respiratory distress with persistent lung collapse or hyperinflation. Treatment usually involves endoscopic or surgical lobar resection. This case presents a preterm neonate who developed acute respiratory distress with persistent right upper lobe atelectasis. A flexible bronchoscopy showed a pediculate violaceous endobronchial lesion in the right main bronchus. Endoscopic resection was not possible due to the patient's low weight and the decision was made to support the patient with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) at home, while monitoring her closely. Remarkably, the lesion spontaneously resolved, and CPAP support was discontinued successfully. The case emphasises the importance of early bronchoscopy, continuous monitoring and the possibility of using CPAP support until conditions are reunited for an eventual resection. This unique case also demonstrates the potential for spontaneous resolution in some cases.

Pediatric Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Rare Malignancies with Incredible Variability

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) encompass a variety of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) which can arise anywhere in the body. While relatively rare in the pediatric population, the incidence of NENs has increased in the past few decades. These neoplasms can be devastating if not diagnosed and treated early, however, symptoms are variable and can be indolent for many years. There is a reported median of 10 years from the appearance of the first symptoms to time of diagnosis. Considering some of these neoplasms have a mortality rate as high as 90%, it is crucial healthcare providers are aware of NENs and remain vigilant. With better provider education and easily accessible resources for information about these neoplasms, awareness can be improved leading to earlier disease recognition and diagnosis. This manuscript aims to provide an overview of both the most common NENs as well as the rarer NENs with high lethality in the pediatric population. This review provides up to date evidence and recommendations, encompassing recent changes in classification and advances in treatment modalities, including recently completed and ongoing clinical trials.

Atypical pulmonary metastases in children: the spectrum of radiologic findings

Pulmonary nodules present a diagnostic challenge when they appear as atypical metastases in pediatric oncology patients. Chest computed tomography (CT) is the primary imaging modality for assessing lung nodules. In pediatric populations, Wilms tumor and osteosarcoma are the cancers most likely to produce pulmonary metastasis, both typical and atypical. This pictorial essay provides a thorough description of the specific radiologic features of atypical pediatric pulmonary metastases, and their pathogenesis and differential diagnosis. We also address diagnostic approaches to incidental lung nodules in healthy children found in the literature. Our aim is to help radiologists identify atypical lung metastases on CT, ensuring that children receive prompt, and potentially lifesaving, treatment.

Drug delivery to the pediatric upper airway

Pediatric upper airway disorders are frequently life-threatening and require precise assessment and intervention. Targeting these pathologies remains a challenge for clinicians due to the high complexity of pediatric upper airway anatomy and numerous potential etiologies; the most common treatments include systemic delivery of high dose steroids and antibiotics or complex and invasive surgeries. Furthermore, the majority of innovative airway management technologies are only designed and tested for adults, limiting their widespread implementation in the pediatric population. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the most recent challenges of managing common pediatric upper airway disorders, describe the limitations of current clinical treatments, and elaborate on how to circumvent those limitations via local controlled drug delivery. Furthermore, we propose future advancements in the field of drug-eluting technologies to improve pediatric upper airway management outcomes.

Clinical significance of interventional therapeutic bronchoscopy combined with bronchial arterial embolization in the treatment of hypervascular primary airway tumors in children

IMPORTANCE

Pediatric hypervascular primary airway tumors are progressive, fatal lesions with a low incidence, and the disease is often more serious than that in adults.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of interventional therapeutic bronchoscopy combined with conservative treatment and bronchial arterial embolization in children with primary airway tumors.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of four pediatric patients with hypervascular primary airway tumor between 2017 and 2019 at Beijing Children's Hospital.

RESULTS

Two patients were low-grade bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma, one patient was pleomorphic adenoma, and one was bronchial leiomyoma. Interventional therapeutic bronchoscopy combined with bronchial arterial embolization was used for treatment (all four patients received general anesthesia). The tumors were safely resected in all patients via interventional bronchoscopy. There were no severe complications related to the procedures. All patients were followed up for 5-12 months, and one low-grade bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma recurred.

INTERPRETATION

Interventional therapeutic bronchoscopy combined with bronchial arterial embolization appears to be a safe and efficient therapeutic method associated with less trauma and fewer complications, including no serious adverse events, in children with hypervascular primary airway tumors without bronchus wall infiltration.

Case report: A tracheobronchial schwannoma in a child

Neurogenic tumors of the tracheobronchial tree are extremely rare, and these include neurofibroma and schwannoma. The rare schwannoma most frequently is reported in adults. We will report an endobronchial schwannoma in an 11-year-old boy.

Pediatric airway tumors: A report from the International Network of Pediatric Airway Teams (INPAT)

OBJECTIVE

Primary tracheobronchial tumors (PTTs) are rare heterogeneous lesions arising from any part of the tracheobronchial tree. Nonspecific symptoms may lead to delayed diagnosis that requires more aggressive surgical treatment. An analysis of cases collected by the International Network of Pediatric Airway Team was undertaken to ensure proper insight into the behavior and management of PTTs.

METHODS

Patients <18 years of age with a histological confirmation of PTT diagnosed from 2000 to 2015 were included in this multicenter international retrospective study. Medical records, treatment modalities, and outcomes were analyzed. The patient presentation, tumor management, and clinical course were compared between malignant and benign histotypes. Clinical and surgical variables that might influence event-free survival were considered.

RESULTS

Among the 78 children identified, PTTs were more likely to be malignant than benign; bronchial carcinoid tumor (n = 31; 40%) was the most common histological subtype, followed by inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (n = 19; 25%) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 15; 19%). Regarding symptoms at presentation, wheezing (P = 0.001) and dyspnea (P = 0.03) were more often associated with benign growth, whereas hemoptysis was more frequently associated with malignancy (P = 0.042). Factors that significantly worsened event-free survival were age at diagnosis earlier than 112 months (P = 0.0035) and duration of symptoms lasting more than 2 months (P = 0.0029).

CONCLUSION

The results of this international study provide important information regarding the clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment of PTTs in children, casting new light on the biological behavior of PTTs to ensure appropriate treatments.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 130:E243-E251, 2020.

Pediatric Bronchial Carcinoid Tumors: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Bronchial carcinoid tumor, while rare, remains the most common primary malignant lung tumor in children. We present a retrospective analysis of 7 patients with typical bronchial carcinoid tumors diagnosed at 2 pediatric tertiary care referral centers between 1990 and 2014. The most common presenting symptom was pneumonia, followed by respiratory distress. Somatostatin scans were performed in selected patients. All patients had negative resection margin following surgery and were alive without disease at last follow-up. Typical carcinoid tumors have a good prognosis following definitive surgical resection. A review of published literature on pediatric bronchial carcinoid tumors is provided.

Tracheal and bronchial tumors

Although primary tracheobronchial tumors are extremely rare in children, recurrent respiratory symptoms resistant to conventional therapy require further investigations to exclude possible malignant obstructive causes. As the matter of fact, early diagnosis may allow minimally invasive surgeries, improving the standard of living and the globally survival rate. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of diagnosis and management of tracheobronchial tumors in the early age, since only few reports are reported in the worldwide literature.