J Korean Pediatr Soc.  2000 Jul;43(7):1000-1005.

Hemangioendothelioma Leading to Obstruction of the Left Main Bronchus in Infant

• Kim BS
• Shim JY
• Park SI
• Hong SJ

Abstract

Hemangioendothelioma is the most common vascular tumor in children, however hemangioendothelioma occurring in the bronchus is very rare. We experienced a case of hemangioendothelioma in the left main bronchus of an infant which was successfully removed by a sleeve resection. Respiratory distress developed in a 3-month-old female infant with roentgenographic finding oi' hyperinflation of the left lung. Chest CT and MRI revealed a highly vascular tumor extending from the wall of the left main bronchus leading to hyperinflation by a check-valve mechanism. Bronchoscopic finding showed left main bronchus obstruction due to a round, hypervasculm protruding mass. Lung scans showed markedly decreased perfusion in the left lung, At the age oi 4 months, a sleeve of the left main bronchus was resected and end-to-end anastomosi performed. The excised specimen contained a hemangioendothelioma measuring 1.5x1.5cm. Anastomotic site narrowing was observed on postoperative bronchoscopy, but ventilation of the lef1: lung remained relatively good. Perfusion of the left lung and respiratory distress symptom was markedly improved 2 months later. Hemangioendothelioma must be considered as one of thc causes of bronchial obstruction during infancy.

Keyword

Hemangioendothelioma; Bronchial obstruction; Infant

MeSH Terms

Bronchi*
Bronchoscopy
Child
Dronabinol
Female
Hemangioendothelioma*
Humans
Infant*
Lung
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Perfusion
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ventilation
Dronabinol