endobronchial leiomyoma

Common Signs and Symptoms

Endobronchial leiomyoma, a rare benign tumor, can manifest with various symptoms depending on the degree of bronchial obstruction. The most common signs and symptoms include:

• Cough: This is the most frequent symptom, reported in 53% of cases [10][11].
• Dyspnea: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing is another common symptom, occurring in 47% of cases [10][11].
• Hemoptysis: Coughing up blood or rusty sputum can occur due to the tumor's growth and obstruction of the bronchus [4][9].
• Recurrent pneumonia: Infections can develop due to the tumor's obstruction, leading to recurrent pneumonia [1][10].

Other Possible Symptoms

In addition to these common symptoms, endobronchial leiomyoma can also present with:

• Atelectasis: Collapse of lung tissue due to obstruction
• Consolidation: Inflammation or infection in the lungs
• Bronchiectasis: Permanent dilation of parts of the bronchi
• Post-obstructive pneumonia: Pneumonia that develops after the tumor obstructs the bronchus

Symptoms Based on Location

The symptoms of leiomyoma can vary depending on its location. Tracheal leiomyoma, for example, may present with different symptoms than pulmonary leiomyoma [13].

It's worth noting that these symptoms are nonspecific and can be misleading, making timely diagnosis challenging [15].

Differential Diagnosis of Endobronchial Leiomyoma

Endobronchial leiomyoma, a rare benign tumor, can be challenging to diagnose due to its similarity in appearance with other lesions. The differential diagnosis for endobronchial leiomyoma includes:

• Lipoma: A fatty tumor that can appear as an endoluminal lesion on CT scans [12].
• Hamartoma: A non-cancerous growth that can also present as a fatty mass [12].
• Papilloma: A benign tumor that grows in the mucosal lining of the bronchus.
• Squamous cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma: Malignant primary lesions that can present as smooth rounded soft-tissue appearance [13].
• Plasmacytoma: A rare tumor composed of plasma cells, which was the case in one reported instance where the diagnosis was made after biopsy [15].

Key Features to Consider

When considering a differential diagnosis for endobronchial leiomyoma, it's essential to note the following features:

• Age and sex: Endobronchial leiomyomas are more common in adults and can occur in both sexes.
• Symptoms: Patients may present with cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, and recurrent pneumonia [14].
• Imaging findings: CT scans may show homogeneous endoluminal lesions with intraluminal growth [1], while bronchoscopic vision reveals well-defined submucous or pedunculated lesions [1].

Diagnostic Approach

The definitive diagnosis of endobronchial leiomyoma can be made by bronchoscopy, which enables visualization of the lesion and collection of samples for histopathological analysis [1]. In some cases, biopsy results may reveal a different diagnosis, such as plasmacytoma [15].

References:

[1] by R Swarnakar · 2013 · Cited by 16 — The definitive diagnosis can be made by bronchoscopy which enables us to visualize the lesion as well as take samples for hisopathological analysis.

[12] by OF Lootah · 2024 — Differential diagnosis includes other spindle cell tumors and tumor lesions such as bronchial carcinoid of the large spindle cell variant, ...

[13] by H Metta · 2009 · Cited by 16 — The differential diagnoses of endobronchial lesions are discussed along with clinical, radiographic, pathologic characteristics and various treatment modalities for endobronchial leiomyomas.

[15] Given the presence of an endobronchial mass, a differential diagnosis of lipoma, leiomyoma, carcinoma, and secondary malignant metastasis was suspected.