Thoracoscopic partial resection for congenital bronchial atresia: A case report

Abstract

The patient was a woman in her 50s. In the year x−5, a chest radiograph taken during a medical examination detected an abnormal shadow, for which the patient visited our hospital. Plain chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a 1.8-cm fish-shaped nodular shadow in the right S9, and the patient was followed up due to intrabronchial mucus plugs. In the year x−3, an abnormal shadow was again detected during a medical examination, and the results of positron emission tomography-CT were negative for a malignant tumor, based on which the patient continued to be followed up. CT in the year x showed an increase in the nodular shadow, and thoracoscopic right lung partial resection was performed for diagnostic and treatment purposes. There were no adhesions in the thoracic cavity. A yellow-white nodule was visible on the pleural surface, and its periphery formed atelectasis with no carbon deposits. Pathological findings showed an area of atresia in B9b, and dilated bronchi and mucus retention were observed in the periphery. The surrounding alveoli exhibited no inflammatory cell infiltration, and overall, the patient was diagnosed with congenital bronchial atresia. Here, we report a case in which thoracoscopic partial lung resection was performed for congenital bronchial atresia that was discovered asymptomatically.