Endobronchial lipomatous hamartoma: A rare cause of bronchial occlusion with destroyed lung

Endobronchial Lipomatous Hamartoma is a rare benign lesion that usually obstructs a major bronchus and may cause irreversible pulmonary damage distally. They originate from fat cells located in peribronchial tissue and occasionally from the sub mucous tissue of large bronchi. Treatment usually includes local resection through a bronchoscope or a bronchotomy incision, and sometimes it is necessary to remove the obstructed and destroyed lobe or lung after thoracotomy. We report a case of Endobronchial Lipomatous Hamartoma (ELH) causing left destroyed lung, that required pneumonectomy. To our knowledge Endobronchial Hamartoma causing destroyed lung necessitating pneumonectomy has so far not been reported in the literature. © 2008 Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons.