An Underrated Potential Risk of Bronchiectasis: Lymph Node Metastasis of a Pulmonary Tumorlet

Abstract

Pulmonary tumorlets occur as the result of extensive scar caused by bronchiectasis or other inflammatory processes. They are minute lesions found in close association with the bronchioles and may rarely metastasize to lymph nodes. We present a 35-year-old male patient who underwent bilobectomy inferior with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis of 20 years duration. Histologic examination showed cystic bronchiectasis with areas of multiple neuro-endocrine tumor-lets in addition to metastatic peribronchial lymph nodes. We emphasize the significance of early surgical treatment of bronchiectasis showing little to no response to medical therapy as well as peribronchial lymph node dissection.

Key Words:

• Bronchiectasis
• tumorlet
• metastasis.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M. Kara

Guvenlik caddesi Esenlik sokak 7/10, TR-06540 Asagiayranci Ankara, Turkey Tel.: + 90 312 3051773 Fax: + 90 312 3117377 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]