Glomus tumour: a rare differential diagnosis of bronchial obstruction in a smoker

• Published in: General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery Vol. 60; no. 11; pp. 774 - 776
• Main Authors: Lang-Lazdunski, Loïc, Bille, Andrea, Cane, Paul, Congleton, Jo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01-11-2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Airway Obstruction - etiology; Bronchi - pathology; Bronchial Diseases - etiology; Bronchial Neoplasms - complications; Bronchial Neoplasms - diagnosis; Bronchography; Bronchoscopy; Cardiac Surgery; Cardiology; Case Report; Case reports; Diagnosis, Differential; Glomus Tumor - complications; Glomus Tumor - diagnosis; Histopathology; Humans; Lymphatic system; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Ostomy; Patients; Pneumonectomy; Pulmonary arteries; Smooth muscle; Surgical Oncology; Thoracic Surgery; Tomography; Tumors; Tracheo-bronchial benign tumour; Glomus tumour; Sleeve resection
• ISSN: 1863-6705; 1863-6713
• DOI: 10.1007/s11748-012-0078-3

Tracheo-bronchial glomus tumours are rare, usually benign tumours of modified smooth muscle cells. They commonly present as non-specific respiratory symptoms of cough, dyspnoea or haemoptysis. Generally, glomus tumours are benign, but extension beyond the bronchial wall into surrounding soft tissues has been described. Surgical treatment remains the treatment of choice for tracheo-bronchial glomus tumours. Endobronchial therapy should be considered in patients unfit for surgical excision. We describe a patient with a glomus tumour of the left main bronchus, who presented with mediastinal shift and lung atelectasis, treated by left upper sleeve lobectomy. The resection was complete and the patient was discharged home after 8 days from surgery.