Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mismatch: a case of tracheal hamartoma

Objective: To demonstrate the diagnostic challenge of tracheal hamartoma in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]

Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 65-year-old man with COPD was admitted with sudden onset of asphyxia attacks related to the position of his body. Computerized tomography [CT] of the neck showed a soft tissue mass with calcification, which occluded more than two-thirds of the proximal part of the trachea. The tumor was completely removed, and histopathology confirmed hamartoma

Conclusion: This case report showed the detection of a primary tracheal tumor on CT. This finding enabled the correct diagnosis and led to appropriate treatment in the form of surgery

Sclerosing mesenteritis presenting as a pseudotumor of the greater omentum

Objective: The aim was to demonstrate a diagnostic challenge of sclerosing mesenteritis initially considered as liposarcoma

Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 45-year-old man was admitted with a painful abdominal mass. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a well- demarcated tumor in his left hemiabdomen, with a large fat component and areas of soft tissue attenuation suggestive of liposarcoma. Intraoperative findings showed a tumor arising from the greater omentum. The tumor was completely removed, and histopathology confirmed a pseudotumorous type of sclerosing mesenteritis with dominant mesenteric lipodystrophy

Conclusion: This case showed that a pseudotumorous type of sclerosing mesenteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the mesenteric tumors

Clinical and radiological manifestations of primary tracheobronchial tumours: a single centre experience

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Tracheobronchial tumours usually cause an airway obstruction and secondary pulmonary infections. Although rare, they are an important differential diagnosis as they may mimic other conditions and diseases. This paper aims to analyse clinical, radiological and histological characteristics of the patients with tracheobronchial tumours diagnosed for a period of 7 years.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>In this retrospective, observational study, we carefully reviewed 65 patients who were diagnosed with tracheal and endobronchial tumours, and performed statistical analysis on the results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among these 65 patients (36 men and 29 women) with a mean age of 48.8 years (range, 15 to 75), 50 had malignant tumours while 15 had benign ones. The most common symptoms were cough, chest pain and haemoptysis. Cough was a more frequent symptom in patients with benign tumours (P <0.0014). Only 2 patients were asymptomatic. Tumours were predominantly localised in the large airways (46 in large bronchi and 2 in trachea). The most common radiological manifestation of malignant tumours was tumour mass (46%) followed by atelectasis. One third benign tumour caused atelectasis, while tumour mass and consolidation were found in 3 patients each. Computerised tomography revealed endoluminal tumour mass in 29.2% of the cases, which was more frequently found in benign than malignant tumours (47% vs 24%, respectively). On bronchoscopy, tumours were visible in 73% and 70% benign and malignant cases respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tracheobronchial tumours should be ruled as a possible diagnosis in patients with cough, haemoptysis, dyspnoea and chest pain. The imaging techniques and histological examination of the tissue would subsequently lead to correct diagnosis and proper treatment can be administered.</p>