endobronchial metastases

Endobronchial metastases are an uncommon form of intrathoracic metastases. They are much less common than intrapulmonary metastases.

Clinical presentation

The clinical presentation varies and includes:

• hemoptysis
• cough
• post-obstructive pneumonitis from distal obstruction

Pathology

Frequently described primary malignancies associated with endobronchial metastases include:

• renal cell carcinoma
  • metastatic lesions may grow slowly, like the primary lesion
• melanoma
• breast cancer
• thyroid carcinoma
• colorectal adenocarcinoma
• cervical carcinoma
• gastric cancer
• ovarian carcinoma
• endometrial cancer
• prostate cancer (rare)
• testicular cancer
• adrenal carcinoma 

Treatment and prognosis

The overall prognosis is poor, averaging 1-2 years in most cases .  Palliative treatment with interventional bronchoscopy to prevent asphyxia may be effective in improving the quality of life in these patients.

Differential diagnosis

• primary bronchogenic carcinoma.

See also

• tracheal and endobronchial lesions

Siehe auch:

• Lungenkarzinom
• Malignes Melanom

und weiter:

• tracheale und endobronchiale Läsionen
• endobronchial metastasis from renal cell carcinoma