title: Diagnosis of pulmonary hamartoma by bronchoscopic transbronchial biopsy.
abstract: Intraparenchymal pulmonary hamartomas are benign lesions that cannot reliably be distinguished from malignant solitary pulmonary nodules by routine chest x-ray or computerized tomography. Thoracotomy or transthoracic needle aspiration or biopsy is usually required to establish the histologic diagnosis of hamartoma. We report a patient in whom a solitary pulmonary nodule was diagnosed as a pulmonary hamartoma by bronchoscopic transbronchial biopsy, obviating the need for a more invasive procedure. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsies should be considered initially in the evaluation of a solitary pulmonary nodule. Special stains for cartilage and fat may aid in the diagnosis of pulmonary hamartomas.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Panos
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male