A Case of Early Adenocarcinoma of the Lung Originating in the Central Bronchus

Abstract

case of early stage adenocarcinoma of the lung originating in a central bronchus was reported. A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of fever. Chest X-ray film showed atelectasis of the right middle lobe. Bronchoscopy demonstrated an irregularly surfaced nodular tumor in the truncus intermedius. Cytology and biopsy revealed well-differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma. Right sleeve middle lobectomy and mediastinal lymphnodes dissection were performed. Macroscopically, a 2×1×1cm nodular tumor was located in the truncus intermedius and confined within the bronchial wall. Microscopic findings of the tumor showed well-differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma with papillary growth into the bronchial lumen, with the tumor replacing the bronchial gland epithelium.