Endobronchial lipoma: report of three cases.

Endobronchial lipomas are rare, benign lesions that usually obstruct a major bronchus and cause irreversible pulmonary damage distally. Because of the age, sex and smoking history of the patients in whom they are found, they also simulate malignant tumours. The authors report three cases of endobronchial lipoma. Two of the patients had a long history of cough and respiratory symptoms, the third was asymptomatic. Two patients underwent lung resection and one was managed by local resection through a bronchotomy. The lipoma in all three patients was diagnosed preoperatively and treated successfully.