Lipoma causing total destruction of a lung - The folly of delayed treatment

Abstract

Lipoma are rare in the endobronchial location
and may cause bronchial obstruction,
pneumonia and subsequent severe
pulmonary parenchymal damage. Accurate
early diagnosis and appropriate intervention
prevents irreversible distal
complications and obviates unnecessary
pulmonary resection and carries excellent
prognosis. We describe an interesting
case of endobronchial lipoma of the
left main bronchus resulting in chronic
obstruction and bronchiectasis. Unfortunate
delay in treatment resulted in a destroyed
left lung, requiring left pneumonectomy.