Pulmonary Hamartomas: A Report of 13 Parenchymal and Endobronchial Cases

INTRODUCTION Pulmonary hamartoma is a rare benign tumor of the lung, accounting for 3% of all tumors of the lung (1). The term hamartoma was first introduced by Albrecht in 1904 to describe tumor-like malformations resulting from a presumptive development abnormality. In 1934, Goldsworthy applied this term to benign tumors located in the lung that were predominantly composed of a combination of fat and cartilage (2). According to different autopsy studies, the incidence of pulmonary hamartomas is between 0.025% and 0.32% (3). Pulmonary hamartomas are divided into parenchymal, generally asymptomatic and endobronchial, clinically manifesting as a result of tracheobronchial obstruction (4). Endobronchial group account for 1–20% of all pulmonary hamartomas (3, 4). The aim of this study is to analyze clinical, radiographic, bronchoscopic, and therapeutic characteristics of the patients with pulmonary hamartoma.