MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Bronchial adenoma

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Bronchial adenoma

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms	Signs and tests Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider

Illustrations

Lungs

Bronchial cancer - CT scan

Bronchial cancer - chest X-ray

Lung nodule, right middle lobe - chest X-ray

Lung nodule - front view chest X-ray

Lung nodule, right lower lung - CT scan

Alternative names Return to top

Bronchial gland tumors; Mucous Gland Adenoma; Bronchial carcinoid tumors; Adenocarcinoma of the bronchus; Cancer - bronchial adenoma

Definition Return to top

A bronchial adenoma is a glandular tumor in the trachea or large bronchi (the large airways of the lung) that usually causes obstruction of the airway. Although the term bronchial adenoma classically refers to a benign tumor of the airway, also known as a mucous gland adenoma, it is often misapplied to malignant tumors such as carcinomas and carcinoids of the airways.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

These tumors grow slowly and rarely metastasize (spread). The cause is unknown. There is a tendency of this type of tumor to cause bleeding or obstruction of a lung or lung lobe.

Symptoms Return to top

bloody sputum
cough
wheezing
recurrent pneumonia
slowly resolving pneumonia
collapse of a lung lobe or segment
cough lasting more than 6 weeks.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

skin blushing/flushing (see carcinoid syndrome)

Signs and tests Return to top

bronchoscopy
chest X-ray may show a single lung nodule or pneumonia in one segment or lobe of the lung

Treatment Return to top

Surgical or endoscopic removal of the tumor is the standard treatment.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Surgery usually results in a complete cure.

Complications Return to top

bleeding
airway obstruction
pneumonia
spreading of the tumor to regional lymph nodes (very rare)

Calling your health care provider Return to top

bleeding (hemoptysis)
breathing difficulty

Update Date: 10/22/2003

Updated by: Allen J. Blaivas, D.O., Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University Hospital, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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