Laser-Assisted Resection of a Giant Pulmonary Chondrohamartoma - A Case Report

Giant hamartoma of lung presented with massive hemoptysis: A rare case report and review of the literature

Hamartoma of lung is a common tumor, majority of which are small and incidentally discovered during plain chest radiography. Our case is a 30-year-old gentleman with an extremely uncommon presentation of a common tumor, that is, a giant hamartoma of lung presenting as massive hemoptysis and intractable cough. To the best of our knowledge, such occurrence of giant pulmonary hamartoma is very uncommon and its presentation with massive hemoptysis is even more uncommon. Less than 20 cases of giant hamartoma of lung have been reported in the English literature so far.

Patient-related independent clinical risk factors for early complications following Nd: YAG laser resection of lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

Neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser resection is one of the most established interventional pulmonology techniques for immediate debulking of malignant central airway obstruction (CAO). The major aim of this study was to investigate the complication rate and identify clinical risk factors for complications in patients with advanced lung cancer.

METHODS

In the period from January 2006 to January 2011, data sufficient for analysis were identified in 464 patients. Nd:YAG laser resection due to malignant CAO was performed in all patients. The procedure was carried out in general anesthesia. Complications after laser resection were defined as severe hypoxemia, global respiratory failure, arrhythmia requiring treatment, hemoptysis, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pulmonary edema, tracheoesophageal fistulae, and death. Risk factors were defined as acute myocardial infarction within 6 months before treatment, hypertension, chronic arrhythmia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stabilized cardiomyopathy, previous external beam radiotherapy, previous chemotherapy, and previous interventional pulmonology treatment.

RESULTS

There was 76.1% male and 23.9% female patients in the study, 76.5% were current smokers, 17.2% former smokers, and 6.3% of nonsmokers. The majority of patients had squamous cell lung cancer (70%), small cell lung cancer was identified in 18.3%, adenocarcinoma in 3.4%, and metastases from lung primary in 8.2%. The overall complication rate was 8.4%. Statistically significant risk factors were age (P = 0.001), current smoking status (P = 0.012), arterial hypertension (P < 0.0001), chronic arrhythmia (P = 0.034), COPD (P < 0.0001), and stabilized cardiomyopathy (P < 0.0001). Independent clinical risk factors were age over 60 years (P = 0.026), arterial hypertension (P < 0.0001), and COPD (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Closer monitoring of patients with identified risk factors is advisable prior and immediately after laser resection. In order to avoid or minimize complications, special attention should be directed toward patients who are current smokers, over 60 years of age, with arterial hypertension or COPD.

[Giant hamartoma of the lung]

Hamartomas are the most common benign tumors of the lungs and usually present as solitary intraparenchymal lesions a few centimeters in diameter which are detected radiologically as an incidental finding. This article reports on a case of a giant pulmonary hamartochondroma 29 cm in diameter, which impressed preoperatively and intraoperatively as an extrapulmonary neoplasm. The detection of smaller mesenchymal neoplastic lesions in the lungs and pleura is a further special feature of this case.

Video-assisted lung resection using radiofrequency ablation in a porcine model

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of video-assisted lingula resection using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with internally cooled electrodes in a porcine model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six domestic pigs underwent RFA-assisted thoracoscopic lingulectomy. RFA was the only aerostatic and hemostatic method applied throughout the operation. After 30 d, the animals were sacrificed for the study of the macroscopic and microscopic effects of the technique.

RESULTS

No signs of pneumothorax, blood loss, or infection were observed up to 1 mo postoperatively. There was no mortality either during or after surgery. The histopathology of the lung revealed three clearly demarcated zone lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that thoracoscopic lingulectomy using RFA energy is technically feasible. RFA energy is an effective and safe aerostatic and hemostatic method in the porcine model.