Objective: To describe the epidemiology of endobronchial lipoma and to propose appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic policies for this tumor.
Methods: Two cases of endobronchial lipoma were presented and 38 cases reported in literatures published in mainland China were reviewed.
Results: Thirty-one male and 9 female patients were included, with a mean age of (53 ± 11) years. The overwhelming majority of the tumors (n = 37) were found in the trachea, left or right main bronchi and lobular bronchi. The main symptoms included cough, dyspnea, fever and hemoptysis. Chest CT showed fat or soft tissue density endobronchial masses in 75% (21/28) cases. Eight patients (22.2%) were diagnosed by histological study of the transbronchial biopsy specimen. Thirty-two patients underwent surgical resection. Bronchoscopic resection was carried out in 7 cases.
Conclusion: CT and bronchoscope are highly useful diagnostic tools for endobronchial lipoma. Bronchoscopic resection should be considered as the first choice of treatment for endobronchial lipoma.