A Rare Cause of Cough: Tracheobronchial Myxoid Spindle Cell Lipoma

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial lipomas are a particularly rare form of benign lung neoplasms, with an incidence of 0.1-0.4%. They are often clinically silent, though present with nonspecific symptoms that can result in extensive workup or significant delay prior to diagnosis, as presented in this case. Case Presentation. A 61-year-old male presented with chronic productive cough and occasional dyspnea and a 10-year history of clinically diagnosis of intermittent, exercise-induced asthma, nonresponsive to bronchodilators, and with normal pulmonary function tests. A chest ray showed a band-like opacity in the right middle lobe of the lung and a CT of the chest showed right lung atelectasis with a soft tissue mass in the right main bronchus. The patient underwent bronchoscopy with biopsy, which demonstrated an endobronchial myxoid spindle cell lipoma. The lesion was subsequently removed by a bronchoscopic snare. The patient's asthmatic-like symptomatology resolved after the mass was excised. CONCLUSION: Though rare, endobronchial lipomas characteristically present with nonspecific signs and symptoms and thus can be easily mistaken for other medical conditions, delaying diagnosis and prolonging symptoms.