Endobronchial non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pulmonology
• Hematology

Background:

• Endobronchial non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is an exceptionally rare condition.
• While endobronchial Hodgkin's disease is more common, NHL in the bronchi is seldom encountered.

Observation:

• The study presents four cases of endobronchial non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
• All patients presented with disseminated disease and radiographic findings of hilar masses and/or lobar collapse.
• Two patients exhibited multiple endobronchial lesions.

Findings:

• Three out of four patients diagnosed with endobronchial NHL died within two years.
• The fourth patient is undergoing chemotherapy for disseminated disease.
• Lobar collapse in NHL patients warrants consideration of endobronchial involvement.

Implications:

• Diagnosis of endobronchial NHL requires a high index of suspicion, especially with lobar collapse.
• Treatment strategies should integrate chest radiation for lung re-expansion and systemic chemotherapy.
• The prognosis for endobronchial NHL remains guarded due to frequent dissemination at diagnosis.