Removal of an endobronchial lipoma via uniportal thoracoscopic right basal segmentectomy

Background: Endobronchial lipoma is a rare benign tumor. The standard treatment is bronchoscopic intervention or surgical resection. Here, we present a case of endobronchial lipoma treated by right basal segmentectomy via a uniportal thoracoscopic approach.

Case presentation: A 66-year-old female presented with a persistent cough and recurring high-grade fever 4 months in duration. Chest X-ray revealed an abnormal infiltration shadow in the right lower lung field. Chest computed tomography revealed a tumor that occluded the lateral segmental bronchus of the right lower lobe. Surgical resection was planned because we failed to diagnose the tumor via bronchoscopic biopsy. Finally, uniportal, thoracoscopic right basal segmentectomy, which is less invasive than lobectomy and allows preservation of the apical segment of the lower lobe, was successfully performed. The pathological diagnosis was of endobronchial lipoma. The cough and recurrent pneumonia improved after surgery.

Conclusions: Segmentectomy via a uniportal thoracoscopic approach could be a novel treatment option for endobronchial lipoma.

Keywords: Bronchial obstruction; Endobronchial lipoma; Lipoma; Segmentectomy; Surgery.