Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung Mimicking Bronchial Asthma Treated by Transbronchofiberscopic Electrosurgery

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung was diagnosed in a 77 year-old man with dyspnea at rest, stridor, cough and sputum. Wheezes throughout the lung were distinct “random monophonic wheezes” and not “fixed monophonic wheezes” by a sound spectrogram. Bronchofiberscopy revealed a large, pink polypoid lesion in his right truncus intermedius, accompanied by necrosis. Biopsy showed non-keratonizing squamous cell carcinoma. His wheezes, which were characteristic of bronchial asthma, were remarkedly reduced after resection of the tumor by electrosurgery.