A case of hilar type early squamous cell carcinoma treated by bronchoplasty without lung resection

Background. Bronchial sleeve resection and plasty techniques have been well established as routine procedures to avoid unnecessary removal of lung tissues. However, bronchoplasty without lung resection is still an uncommon alternative in the surgical treatment of early lung cancer. We report a case of early squamous cell carcinoma treated by bronchoplasty without lung resection. Case. A 69-year-old man was admitted with bloody sputum. Although his chest X-ray was normal, bronchoscopy revealed a polyp, approximately 1 cm in diameter, at the bifurcation of the right upper lobe bronchus and truncus intermedius. Biopsy yielded a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. Chest CT showed no detectable invasion beyond the bronchial wall, or lymph node metastases. We employed bronchial sleeve resection and a telescope-like anastomosis technique, and the tumor was removed without lung resection. No tumor cells were detected on the cut surface of the right main, upper lobe bronchus and truncus intermedius. Postoperative lung function tests at 3 months showed no decrease in spirometory, lung volume or diffusion capacity. Conclusion. Selected cases of early squamous cell carcinoma of the lung can be treated with good results by bronchoplasty without lung resection.