Bronchial adenoma - Bronchial Cancer

Bronchial adenoma
Reviewed last on: 8/10/2007
Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)

Bronchial adenoma - All Information
Overview
Symptom
Treatment
Prevention
All Information
Alternative Names
Bronchial gland tumors; Mucous gland adenoma; Bronchial carcinoid tumors; Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Cylindroma

Definition of Bronchial adenoma:
A bronchial adenoma is a type of tumor in the windpipe (trachea) or large airways of the lung (bronchi) that usually blocks the airway. Although the term bronchial adenoma was once used to refer to noncancerous (benign) airway tumors, these tumors (with the exception of mucous gland adenomas), are now known to spread to other areas of the body.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
These tumors grow slowly and rarely spread (metastasize). The cause is unknown. This type of tumor tends to cause bleeding or to block a lung or lung lobe.

Symptoms:
Bloody sputum
Cough
Wheezing
Recurrent pneumonia
Slowly resolving pneumonia
Collapse of a lung lobe or segment
Cough lasting more than 6 weeks
Other symptoms that can (rarely) occur with this disease:

Skin blushing/flushing
See also: Carcinoid syndrome

Signs and tests:
Bronchoscopy
Chest x-ray
CT scan
Treatment:
Removing the tumor with surgery or endoscopy is the standard treatment.

Expectations (prognosis):
Surgery usually results in a complete cure. The ability of these tumors to spread can vary, but most have a good prognosis when removed with surgery.

Complications:
Bleeding
Blocked airway
Pneumonia
Tumor spreads to lymph nodes in the area (this can vary, depending on tumor type)
Calling your health care provider:
Bleeding (hemoptysis)
Breathing difficulty

Lungs

Bronchial cancer - CT scan

Bronchial cancer - chest X-ray

Lung nodule, right middle lobe - chest X-ray

Lung nodule - front view chest X-ray

Lung nodule, right lower lung - CT scan

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