Endobronchial lipoma mimicking bronchial carcinoid tumour

A 68-year-old smoker on aspirin/clopidogrel due to recent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) /stenting presented with intermittent haemoptysis. Bronchoscopy revealed an endoluminal tumour in a right-lower-lobe segment (figure 1). No biopsy was taken due to bleeding risk. Aspirate analysis showed sparse cells with granular cytoplasm, and a presumptive diagnosis of bronchial carcinoid was made. CT scan showed no lymphadenopathy. After stopping clopidogrel and absent signs for progression on CT scan/bronchoscopy, right-lower lobectomy was performed. Histological analysis revealed a submucosal lipoma (figure 2). Differential diagnosis of endobronchial tumours encompasses benign (eg hamartoma, lipoma)1 and malignant lesions (eg bronchial carcinoid, metastasis, mucoepidermoid or adenocystic carcinoma).2 Biopsy has to be weighed against bleeding risk especially if a bronchial carcinoid is considered. Retrospectively, a lipoma could have been suspected based on the density of the lesion (–122 HU) and the endoscopic appearance. The management of...
Source: Thorax - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Images in Thorax, Journalology, Hemoptysis, Screening (oncology), Airway biology, Cardiothoracic surgery, Radiology (diagnostics), Ethics, Health education, Smoking, Health effects of tobacco use, Tobacco use Chest clinic Source Type: research