A Case of Bilateral Endobronchial Squamous Cell Carcinoma Mimicking Asthma

Partial or complete obstruction of bronchial tree by endobronchial tumours results in obstructive hyperinflation, non – resolving pneumonia, or atelectasis. Partial endobronchial obstruction may be associated with wheezes, which mimic asthmatic attack, non – responding to inhaled medications. Here, we report a rare case of bilateral endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma, presenting with obstructive hyperinflation and wheezes, which was wrongly diagnosed as ‘difficult asthma’ in a forty – year old male. Histopathology of endobronchial biopsy tissue ultimately revealed the truth. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v15i1.19875 J Medicine 2014; 15: 61-63