Endobronchial lipoma: A rare indication for a lobectomy

Endobronchial lipomas are rare benign tumors of the respiratory tract. We describe a 61-year-old male with a history of recurrent pneumonia and hemoptysis whose computed tomography scan revealed a destroyed left lower lobe of lung caused by an endobronchial tumor. A bronchoscopic biopsy was suggestive of a lipoma. He underwent a left lower lobectomy since there was irreversible damage to the lower lobe beyond the obstruction. With this report, we stress the importance of early diagnosis of such tumors which could have made an endobronchial resection possible without resorting to a lung resection, thus preserving lung function.