Endobronchial neurogenic tumors

Endobronchial neurogenic tumours are exceptional and little known. The authors report two cases of such tumours: a neurofibroma of the right main bronchus in a 32 year old man and a schwannoma of the left main bronchus in a 10 year old child. Pneumonectomy was necessary in both cases due to destruction of the pulmonary parenchyma distal to the obstruction. The incidence of this type of tumour is estimated to be between 0.2 and 4%. They may be either schwannomas or neurofibromas, the discovery of which always raises the problem of the possible association of von Recklinghausen's disease malignant forms, neurogenic sarcomas or malignant schwannomas may also be encountered. The diagnosis is based on endoscopy which reveals the tumour and allows biopsy. Treatment of these essentially benign tumours should be conservative, provided the diagnosis is made early, prior to parenchymal destruction. The prognosis is poor in the malignant forms and chemotherapy may be useful in malignant schwannomas.