Bronchial leiomyoma in a chemical warfare victim-a causative agent or an incidental finding: A case report

Bronchial leiomyoma is one of the rarest benign tumors of the lower respiratory system, compromising less than 2% of reported benign pulmonary tumors. Chemical warfare is a known cause of chronic pulmonary diseases in soldiers who survives of the chemical wars. Most of these patients are chronically under treatment by respiratory drugs and acute exacerbations of their symptoms prompt for investigations for diagnosis of a new complication in these patients.

In this case report we present a 43 y/o male chemical warfare victim who was under treatment for his respiratory disease for near 20 years but at last bronchial leiomyoma was diagnosed as the cause of exacerbation of his symptoms. He was undergone right thoracotomy and sleeve resection of left main bronchus. Severe adhesions plus lymphadenitis in the mediastinum might be due to the effects of prior inflammatory process.

Because of rarity of this tumor, bronchial leiomyoma in this patient may be the result of previous exposure to nitrogen mustard but the exact relationship remained to be confirmed.

Although the association between chemical warfare and lung neoplasias has not been well understood, it is the first time that a bronchial leiomyoma is reported in a nitrogen mustard survivor.