A Case of Mucous Gland Adenoma of the Trachea / 결핵

Mucous gland adenoma of the bronchus is a rare benign tumor arising from the bronchial mucous gland. It accounts for less than 0.5 % of all lung tumors. In adults, tracheal tumors are most often malignant. Among benign tumors arising in the trachea, mucous gland adenoma of the trachea is extremely rare. First case was reported by Ferguson and Cleeland in 1988, as "Mucous gland adenoma of the trachea". Microscopic study shows it to arise from normal submucosal mucous glands forming glandular or tubular structures composed of mucous secreting cells. Common symptoms were cough, hemoptysis, recurrent and protracted pneumonia, shortness of breath, and wheeze. Duration of symptoms before diagnosis varied from a few weeks to 10 years with prolonged symptoms being usual. Management of these tumors should be complete excision, including pulmonary resection because two instances of recurrence after local excision have been reported.

Mucous Gland Adenoma of the Bronchus; Light Microscopic and Ultrastructural Features

We present a case of mucous gland adenoma arising from the main bronchus of the lower lobe of the left lung in terms of clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural aspects as well as review of related literatures. The patient, a 31-year-old female, was admitted to Catholic University Medical College Hospital with complaints of coughing and purulent sputum for about seven years. The chest CT showed a severely calcified tumor in the left lower lobe of the lung. Grossly, the calcified tumor arising from the main bronchus protruded into the lumen and showed bronchiectasis of the lower lobe and atelectasis of the upper lobe of the lung. The tumor was pale brown-gray and sharply circumscribed and showed some small cystic spaces filled with mucoid material. Microscopically, most of the tumor showed dystrophic calcification. The growth pattern of the tumor is composed of cysts, tubules, and glands lined by cytologically bland columnar, cuboidal, or flattened mucus secreting cells. Electron micrograph of tumor cells showed some round or oval mucous granules measuring 0.5-1.8 micrometer.