Korean J Med.
1998 Mar;54(3):423-426.
A Case of Tracheal Leiomyoma
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine, Chonju, Korea.
- 2Department of Chest surgery, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine, Chonju, Korea.
- 3Department of Pathology, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine, Chonju, Korea.
Abstract
-
Leiomyomas account for 2% of the benign tumors of the
lower tracheobronchial tree. Tracheal leiomyomas most
commonly occur in the fourth decade man. The most co
mmon segment to be affected is the lower third of the
trachea and the usual site of origin is the posterior mem
branous portion. Symptoms are due to partial or com
plete obstruction of the trachea. Intermittent or constant
dyspnea and wheezing are the most common symptoms
of tracheal leiomyoma and have been erroneously ascri
bed to bronchial asthma. Clinical symptoms distinguished
from bronchial asthma, chest CT scan and bronchoscopy
can make diagnosis. The diagnosis of leiomyoma of the
lower respiratory tract is by chest C-T scan and bronc
hoscopy, which gives direct visualization and biopsy ma
terial is sent for histologic examination. The treatment of
leiomyoma is essentially conservative since there have
been no reports of recurrence after limited resection. Intr
atracheal leiomyomas have been dealt with in three
ways: by bronchoscopic removal, by excision via a tra
cheotomy, and by circumferential resection with primary
end-to-end anastomosis. In recent years, successful mass
removal with YAG laser and electrocautery technique were
reported.
We have experienced 36 year-old-male with hemopty
sis, cough and sputum production. Tracheal leiomyoma
was diagnosed by chest CT scan and bronchoscopy. Mass
removal and tracheoplasty were done successfully. So we
present this case with the review of literature.