Benign Endobronchial Tumors: A Clinicopathologic Review

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Pathology

Background:

• Benign endobronchial tumors are uncommon and challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms and vague imaging.
• Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for managing these rare airway lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of benign endobronchial tumors.
• To analyze diagnostic methods and treatment strategies for these tumors.
• To evaluate patient outcomes and survival rates following treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 28 patients with biopsy-proven benign endobronchial tumors from 1993-2018.
• Review of clinicopathologic and radiologic data, focusing on treatment modalities and survival.
• Data collection on tumor types, presenting symptoms, imaging findings, and surgical interventions.

Main Results:

• Hamartoma was the most frequent type (37%), followed by lipoma (19%).
• Common symptoms included cough (58%), shortness of breath (44%), and hemoptysis (15%).
• Endobronchial resection was the preferred diagnostic and therapeutic approach, with no reported deaths.

Conclusions:

• Benign endobronchial tumors typically present as well-defined submucosal or pedunculated lesions.
• These tumors can lead to post-obstructive complications, necessitating timely intervention.
• Endobronchial resection is the optimal strategy for diagnosis and treatment, ensuring favorable patient survival.