Abstract
Neurilemmomas are benign tumors that originate from Schwann cells. These tumors rarely occur in the trachea or bronchus. Although small peripheral lesions cause no symptoms, they usually cause dyspnea, cough, wheeze, and atelectasis. We encountered two cases of endobronchial neurilemmoma, and reviewed 10 cases previously reported in Korea in order to clarify the characteristics of this disease, and to determine the appropriate treatment. The median age of the 12 patients reviewed were 36.5 (range 16-75). Cough and dyspnea were the most common initial symptoms (40%), and two cases had no symptoms. Regarding the diagnostic methods, bronchoscopic biopsy was found to be inadequate for diagnosis in two cases. A review of the cases revealed the following teatments: bronchoscopic removal in two cases, surgery in six cases, and combined bronchoscopic removal and surgery in one case.
기관지내에 발생하는 신경집종은 매우 드물고 증상과 방사선학적 소견이 다양하게 나타난다. 진단을 위해서 기관지내시경을 통한 조직검사가 필요하지만 기관지내시경을 통한 조직검사에서도 확진이 되지 않을 수 있음을 고려해야 한다. 치료로는 기관지내시경을 통한 국소적 치료와 외과적 절제술이 있으며 환자의 상태, 종양의 위치 및 진행 정도 등을 고려하여 결정해야 할 것이다.