Laser resection of a typical carcinoid tumor of the right main bronchus.
A 45-year-old female patient was referred by a thoracic surgeon. She complained of dyspnea, easy fatigability, and exertional shortness of breath. Auscultation revealed wheezing in the right upper lung field.
Chest CT (23.06.2022) demonstrated a 0.8 cm endobronchial filling defect in the right upper lobe bronchus with associated segmental fibroatelectasis. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed a mass lesion in the right upper lobe bronchus, causing complete obstruction of the right upper lobe bronchus and partial obstruction of the main bronchus.
Histomorphological examination of a forceps biopsy confirmed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (typical carcinoid).
The patient underwent laser resection under general anesthesia. A Friedel rigid bronchoscope (tube No. 13) was introduced into the trachea. The tumor was initially treated with low-power diode laser (7–9 W), followed by high-power laser ablation (14–16 W) and removal using rigid alligator forceps. The tumor bed was additionally treated with laser at 12 W.
Postoperatively, the patient spent one inpatient day and was discharged in improved condition. Radiological follow-up at 1 and 10 months showed no evidence of recurrence.
