Focus of bronchial carcinoma in situ eradicated by endobronchial biopsy

Bronchial carcinoma in situ is not frequently diagnosed in a clinical setting. A bronchoscopic biopsy of a small mucosal abnormality in a patient with hemoptysis yielded a diagnosis of carcinoma in situ. The involved lobe was resected. On thorough histologic examination of the surgical specimen, no residual carcinoma could be found. To our knowledge, this is unprecedented in the literature. This case emphasizes the importance of biopsying subtle abnormalities and raises questions about the optimal management of in situ bronchial carcinoma.