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Updated: May 13, 2026
Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: February 27, 2026
Successful sleeve lobectomy of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in a 4-year-old child
Weihua Pan1, Lei Du, Yeming Wu
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Sleeve resection is a viable surgical option for primary pulmonary tumors in young children, offering a better alternative to pneumonectomy. This approach preserves lung function and leads to excellent recovery outcomes in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Thoracic Oncology
- Pediatric Thoracic Tumors
Background:
- Primary pulmonary tumors in pediatric patients pose significant surgical challenges.
- Traditional approaches like pneumonectomy and radical lobectomy have limitations in small children due to surgical complexity and potential long-term sequelae.
Observation:
- A case study involving a 4-year-old child diagnosed with an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor affecting the main stem bronchus.
- The patient underwent a left lower sleeve lobectomy, a lung-sparing surgical technique.
Findings:
- The sleeve lobectomy procedure resulted in significant recovery for the pediatric patient.
- Post-operative follow-up showed the child growing well with no discernible long-term complications or sequelae.
Implications:
- Sleeve resection is presented as a preferred and effective treatment for main stem bronchial tumors in small children.
- This technique offers a valuable alternative to pneumonectomy, preserving lung function and improving quality of life in pediatric oncology patients.
Abstract:
Primary pulmonary tumors in small children have remained a challenge for pediatric surgeons. Pneumonectomy and radical lobectomy are limitedly indicated due to surgical difficulties and sequelae. Here, we present our experience with a 4-year-old patient who suffered from an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. A left lower sleeve lobectomy was performed, and the patient recovered significantly after surgery. At the last follow-up, the child was growing well without any sequel, which supports our hypothesis that in small children, sleeve resection is the preferred treatment for tumors on the main stem bronchus and presents an alternative to an otherwise unavoidable pneumonectomy.
