1988 Volume 28 Issue 7 Pages 907-911
A 56-year-old male was admitted because of complete atelectasis of the left lung caused by tumor. The tumor occluding the left main bronchus was squamous cell carcinoma. After bronchial artery infusion (Mitomycin C: 10mg), left pneumonectomy with lymph-node dissection was performed. Macroscopically the tumor had almost disappeared leaving a lesion sized 1.0×0.7×0.6 cm below the orifice of the lower lobe bronchus. Histological examination revealed no tumor invasion beyond the bronchial wall and no metastasis to lymph nodes. This case was an early stage hilar lung cancer. Bronchoplasty would have been a better selection for this case instead of pneumonectomy. After operation the patient said that he had expectorated a piece of tumor before operation. Preoperative application of endoscopic Nd-YAG laser is sometimes recommended for polypoid hilar lung cancer. It could enable more flexible planning of surgery or prevent tumor aspiration into the airway during operation.
