Central airway obstruction caused by a peripheral hamartoma

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Pathology

Background:

• Hamartomas are benign tumors typically found in the lung periphery.
• Slow-growing hamartomas can present atypically, posing diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

• A patient presented with symptoms initially misdiagnosed as asthma.
• Progressive airway obstruction over decades led to the identification of a large endobronchial hamartoma.

Findings:

• The hamartoma originated from peripheral lung tissue and extended into the central airways.
• Urgent laser therapy debulked the endobronchial mass, followed by surgical resection of the tumor base via right middle lobectomy.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering rare diagnoses in persistent respiratory symptoms.
• Delayed diagnosis of endobronchial hamartomas can lead to critical airway compromise.
• Multidisciplinary management involving pulmonology and thoracic surgery is crucial for successful treatment.