title: [Clinical characteristics of resected bronchial hamartoma. Study of seven cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endobronchial hamartoma is a benign tumour derived from peribronchial mesenchymal tissue. It is a form of intrapulmonary hamartoma and can cause irreversible pulmonary destruction due to bronchial obstruction. Early diagnosis and treatment is very important and endoscopic treatment is usually the first choice. In cases in which prolonged bronchial obstruction has produced irreversible lung destruction surgical, resection of the tumour is necessary. The aim of this study is to describe the clinicopathological characteristics of resected endobronchial hamartoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven cases of endobronchial hamartoma, diagnosed in our institution between January 1995 and December 2009, were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient population consisted of four males and three females with mean age of 53.7 years (41-68 years). The most frequent clinical presentation was obstructive pneumonia. Endoscopy and imaging showed an endobronchial mass in most cases. Surgical treatment consisted of atypical resection in one case, lobectomy in five cases and pneumonectomy in one case. Tumour size ranged between 0.5 and 3.5 cm. The diagnosis was confirmed in all cases by histological examination. The outcome was favorable in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic techniques are effective for the diagnosis and treatment of endobronchial hamartochondroma. Treatment should be prompt to prevent irreversible lung damage due to chronic obstruction and suppuration, in which case, pulmonary resection may be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Hôpital Abderrahman-Mami, Ariana, Tunisie. alia.zehanikassar@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zehani-Kassar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayadi-Kaddour
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marghli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ridene
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kilani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: El Mezni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002812:Chondroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology