Large mesenchymal cystic and chondroid pulmonary hamartoma mimicking lung cancer: Case report

J Cardiothorac Surg. 2023 Oct 10;18(1):278. doi: 10.1186/s13019-023-02394-z.

Abstract

Pulmonary hamartoma is the most commonly resected benign neoplasm of lung. The mesenchymal cystic subtype is a rare and often bilaterally occurring variant composed of multiple cysts and nodules. Herein, we present an asymptomatic 70-year-old woman with a large and mostly cystic growth of right hilar region. Computed tomography of the chest and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging traced its origins to right middle lobe. Overall features suggested primary lung cancer or perhaps other cystic lung disease.Because transbronchial lung biopsy failed to establish a histologic diagnosis, right middle lobectomy was undertaken by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The gross surgical specimen harbored a single and sizeable (8.0 × 4.0 cm) cystic lesion containing multiple yellow-white nodules. A diagnosis of mesenchymal cystic and chondroid hamartoma was ultimately rendered. This particular case is noteworthy, given the initial clinical resemblance to primary lung cancer.

Keywords: Chondroid hamartoma; Cystic hamartoma; Lung cancer; Mimicking.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cysts* / surgery
  • Female
  • Hamartoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Hamartoma* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases* / surgery
  • Lung Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed