Ectopic bone formation in a subsegmental bronchus

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012 Sep;60(9):618-20. doi: 10.1007/s11748-012-0065-8. Epub 2012 Jun 13.

Abstract

A 48-year-old man with fever and dry cough was admitted to our hospital. Imaging examinations revealed a mass lesion with calcification in the right B(3)b bronchus and atelectasis in the distal lung area. Subsequently, right S(3) segmentectomy was performed. There was a hard polypoid mass completely obstructing the right B(3)b bronchus. Histopathological findings suggested a metaplastic bone formation with mature bone marrow tissue leading to the primary bronchial cartilage. A case of ectopic bone formation in subsegmental bronchus has never been reported thus far. The resident fibroblasts might transform into osteoblasts under appropriate environmental conditions and induce bone formation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Bronchi / pathology*
  • Bronchi / surgery
  • Bronchial Diseases / complications
  • Bronchial Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Bronchial Diseases / surgery
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Cough / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / complications
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / diagnosis*
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / surgery
  • Pulmonary Atelectasis / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome