The frequency of lung cancer in patients with pulmonary hamartomas: An evaluation of clinical, radiological, and pathological features and follow-up data of 96 patients with pulmonary hamartomas

Purpose

To investigate the frequency of lung cancer in patients with pulmonary hamartomas and to evaluate clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of pulmonary hamartomas.

Basic procedures

We reviewed pathology records of pulmonary hamartomas diagnosed between 2003 and 2014. Medical records and the hospital electronic database were also reviewed for each patient to obtain clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of pulmonary hamartomas and accompanying malignancies.

Main findings

Ninety-six patients with pulmonary hamartomas were identified. There were 26 females (27%) and 70 males (73%), with a mean age of 56.2 years (range 22–87 years). Malignancies were detected in 23 patients (24%), which developed previously in five patients (1 synchronous, 4 metachronous lesions), and concomitantly in 18 patients (with origin from the lung in 17 patients and from the pleura in 1 patient).

Principal conclusions

Our results show that patients with pulmonary hamartomas may have coexisting lung malignancies.