Endobronchial presentation of Hodgkin's disease: a report of nine cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Although mediastinal involvement by Hodgkin's disease is frequent, the initial presentation of the lymphoma by an endobronchial lesion is rare. Therefore, the question of whether patients with Hodgkin's disease should undergo fibreoptic bronchoscopy as a staging procedure remains unresolved. In a series of 469 patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin's disease during a 10 year period, we reviewed the clinical features of nine patients who presented with an endobronchial tumour. They were compared to 34 previously published cases. The major presenting symptoms were cough, wheezing and haemoptysis. Bulky mediastinum was seen in six cases. The three other patients presented respiratory symptoms evocative of endoluminal invasion. All but one of the patients received combined modality therapy, as currently accepted for patients with poor prognostic factors. The overall actuarial survival was 74% after 4 yrs of follow-up. A selective subgroup of patients with stage I-II supradiaphragmatic and endobronchial Hodgkin's disease may, thus, present without poor prognostic factors (but generally with respiratory symptoms), and might be undertreated if this localization is not recognized. We propose that these patients should undergo fibreoptic bronchoscopy.