Focal formations in the lungs. Neoplasms in the lungs, benign Neoplasms in the lung in the elderly

Tumors form a large group of diverse neoplasms in the human lungs. In this case, the tissues of the lung, pulmonary pleura or bronchi grow significantly, which consist of physically altered cells that are no longer able to perform their functions.

Benign and malignant formations differ in the degree of differentiation of the affected cells.

In addition, tumor-like areas of tissue from other organs can enter the lungs; these tumors are considered malignant by default.

Causes, factors of development and differentiation of the disease

Among the reasons that lead to neoplasms in the lungs, there are many different factors:

It is especially worth noting that the risk of developing a neoplasm increases in the case of a chronic disease with a decrease in immunity, for example:

Bronchial asthma.
COPD
Chronic bronchitis.
Tuberculosis, pneumonia, and some other diseases.

In order to differentiate the neoplasm, additional examinations are needed: the tumor can be a benign granuloma, which are quite harmless in nature, but there is also a possibility that the neoplasm will turn out to be a malignant tumor, which urgently needs to be cured.

There are two categories of neoplasms:

benign tumors;
Malignant.

Benign formations appear from ordinary, similar to healthy cells. A pseudocapsule is formed in them, and the surrounding tissues atrophy.

This type of tumor does not form metastases. Benign tumors appear for the most part in men and women under 45 years of age, and in general they make up about 7-10% of the total set of all possible neoplasms in the lungs.

Benign bronchial tumors originate from cells that are similar in structure to healthy cells. These formations grow slowly, do not destroy neighboring cells and do not infiltrate.

There are the following types of benign formations:

Symptoms of benign formations

The manifestations of benign tumors are quite diverse and are divided into categories depending on the stage of the disease. There are three stages of the disease:

Diagnosis of the disease

In order to make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to carry out several additional procedures. It should be noted that single nodules in the lungs are especially dangerous for people over 35 years of age and may be in smokers - including those who have recently quit smoking.

In people who do not smoke and who are under 35 years of age, the chance that a single growth will be malignant and form lung cancer is less than one percent.

This observation allows us to conclude that the education is of good quality. The next sign will be the physical dimensions of the neoplasm: tumors smaller than a centimeter in the rarest cases are malignant.

Calcium inclusions in a lung tumor also reduce the likelihood that it is malignant - this can be established using the same x-ray observation. And another sign of benign formation is the absence of tumor growth for two years. This observation should be carried out under the supervision of doctors, who must carefully monitor the neoplasm and make adjustments to take into account changes in its size.

X-ray is used to detect a variety of pathological diseases of the lungs, it can be used to identify various neoplasms in the lungs. On x-ray, the neoplasm is seen as a fuzzy shadow with delineated boundaries; the structure of such formations is quite clear and homogeneous, however, one can also notice some particularly prominent elements: similar to small blocks of decalcification - hamartomas and tuberculomas - and solid fragments structurally similar to bone - teratomas.

Neoplasms of a benign or malignant nature are often asymptomatic - the patient does not make any complaints, and these pathologies can only be detected in studies using X-rays.

But still, you need to know that the above information does not give a 100% guarantee that the tumor is benign and, of course, cannot serve as a sufficient basis for making a diagnosis. Only a specialist who observes a patient for a long time and knows his medical history, based on the analysis of data and radiographs, as well as endoscopic observations, can make an expert opinion. The decisive moment is a biopsy, the study of the materials of which will be the basis for the doctor's verdict.

An important point will be the preservation of old x-rays, which are needed in order to compare with the latest pictures. This will allow to more accurately identify the localization of the neoplasm and determine its nature. This operation will help save time and avoid unnecessary actions and start treatment sooner.

If the patient does not have the opportunity to find images taken in the recent past, then people under 35 years old who do not smoke need to have a lung tomography every three months, and then carry out this procedure once a year - and this is in the absence of data that says about malignancy. In addition, it is recommended to do fluorography, which should be carried out by polyclinics at the place of residence.

A CT scan will be an invaluable tool in identifying a benign tumor, because it allows you to identify not only neoplasms, but also to find traces of adipose tissue, which is characteristic of lipomas, it will help to find fluid in the lungs.

Fluid is present in cysts and tumors of vascular origin. Computed tomography makes it possible to distinguish benign formations from tuberculomas, various types of cancer and peripheral cancer.

Doctors should also determine the presence or absence of voice trembling and breathing, determination of wheezing in the chest. An asymmetric chest can be a sign of obstruction of the main bronchus of the lung, other signs of this disease are smoothed intercostal spaces and the lag of the corresponding half of the cell in dynamics. If the amount of data obtained from these studies is not enough, then doctors use other methods: thoracoscopy or thoracotomy with biopsy.

Treatment of a benign tumor

In this case, drug therapy is useless, a benign formation is subject to complete removal by surgical intervention. Only timely diagnosis can avoid irreversible consequences for the health of the patient and his lungs.

Tumors are determined by thoracoscopy or thoracotomy.

Early diagnosis of the tumor is especially important, which allows saving the maximum amount of tissue during the operation, and this, in turn, makes it possible to avoid numerous complications. Recovery after surgery is handled by the pulmonology department. The vast majority of operations are completed quite successfully, and the recurrence of tumors is practically excluded.

Bronchial resection is used to remove the central lung tumor. With this method, the lung tissue is not affected, but a small incision is made, which allows you to save most of the functional tissue of the lung. Fenestrated resection is used to remove the bronchus on the so-called narrow base, which is subsequently sutured or bronchotomy is performed at this site.

With a more serious and massive neoplasm, one or two lobes of the lung are removed - this method is called a lobectomy or bilobectomy. Sometimes - in especially severe cases, they resort to pneumonectomy - the removal of the entire lung. This operation is indicated for patients who have received serious damage to the lungs due to the occurrence of a benign tumor. Peripheral tumors are amputated by enucleation, segmental resection is also possible, and especially massive neoplasms are amputated by lobectomy.

Patients over thirty-five years of age and smokers, in addition to the above examinations, are also required to conduct a biopsy. The biopsy is performed by an experienced surgeon, and depending on its location and size, the sampling technique differs. It should be noted that quitting smoking reduces the risk of various lung diseases, including neoplasms.

Such a pathology as lung tumors is very difficult to classify and divide into groups. This is due to the fact that on the one hand they all have some similarities, but at the same time they differ from each other. The nature of the disease will depend on where the neoplasm is located, how it grows and spreads, what is the cause of its occurrence. In medicine, it is customary to divide all tumors into two broad categories:

benign;
malignant.

What is the difference between a benign and a malignant lung tumor?

Neoplasms in the human body appear due to a "breakdown" that occurred in the process of development and division of body cells. That is, it can be formed from absolutely any cells in which, for some reason, a developmental disorder has occurred.

As a rule, it is rather difficult to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors. But in order to do this, doctors use 2 principles:

Features of the growth and development of neoplasms.
Belonging to the tissue of the body from which it arose.

Benign and malignant neoplasms differ in many respects from each other. Below we will consider them.

Features of benign lung formations:

tumor cells and tissue cells from which they were formed are completely identical in structure;
growth has an expansive character, that is, slow (it develops as if by itself). With an increase, it pushes the tissues of the body that meet in its path;
does not metastasize to organs and systems;
in the case of treatment does not give relapses;
usually does not affect the overall health of the body.

Features of malignant tumors of the lung:

cells of a malignant neoplasm always have significant differences from the cells of the tissue from which they were formed;
characterized by an infiltrating type of growth. That is, a cancerous neoplasm "eats" into the tissues of the organ, grows into the vascular system, nerve endings. Increases in size extremely quickly;
actively metastasize;
after treatment for several years there are relapses;
have an extremely negative effect on the human body.

For the convenience of their identification in the medical literature, it is accepted:

If the neoplasm is benign, add the suffix "oma" (adenoma, fibroma, myoma, etc.)
If it is of a poor quality, then they write cancer (if the tumor originated from epithelial tissue) or sarcoma (if from connective tissue).

It is extremely important to determine the nature of the tumor, since the choice and course of treatment of the patient largely depends on this.

Classification of benign lung tumors

Education of a benign nature is usually divided according to:

anatomical structure;
histological;
degrees of severity;
location.

The anatomical structure of the tumor tells us what type of tissue it was formed from and what is the vector of its growth.
By location, they are divided into:

central;
peripheral.

Central tumors are formed from large bronchi, peripheral - from those located far from the center.

According to the histological structure, benign formations are of four types:

Epithelial - formed from the cells of the surface layer. These include adenomas, papillomas.
Neuroectodermal - are formed from cells lining the sheath of long processes of neurons. Example: neurofibromas.
Mesodermal - there are their tissues of fatty and connective type. As an example: fibroids, fibroids, etc.
Dysembryogenetic - these are congenital benign formations that have elements of the tissue of the embryo (hamartomas and teratomas).

According to the severity of neoplasms are:

First degree: incomplete obstruction of the bronchus. A person can take both inhalation and exhalation (there are no symptoms of a tumor in the body).
Second degree: the tumor begins to function as a valve, that is, a person can inhale, but not exhale (symptoms are quite meager).
Third degree: occlusion (prolapse, exclusion) of the bronchus from the work process occurs (quite clear symptoms of the presence of a tumor in the human body are observed, as it increases in size and affects nearby organs).

Malignant tumors of the lung. Classification

Malignant neoplasms are classified according to the following criteria:

clinical and anatomical structure;
histological structure;
growth rate and forecast.

According to the clinical and anatomical structure, cancer can be: central (localized in large bronchi), peripheral (arises from epithelial cells of smaller bronchi), mediastinal (with this form of cancer, damage to the lymph nodes of the mediastinum is noted, despite the fact that the place of the maternal tumor in the lung is not localized). ), disseminated (the lungs are affected, but the location of the primary tumor has not been established).

According to the histological structure, lung cancer is:

Squamous.
Small cell cancer.
Glandular cancer or adenocarcinoma.
Large cell cancer.
Dimorphic or glandular squamous cell carcinoma.
Cancer of the bronchial glands.

When viewed from a clinical point of view, cancer will vary in rate of growth and prognosis.

It has been proven that squamous cell lung cancer and adenocarcinoma develop the slowest. And the fastest are small-celled and large-celled.

What are the symptoms of a person with a tumor in the lungs?

A benign lung tumor can manifest itself symptomatically in different ways. Symptoms will depend on the location of the tumor, its size, and sometimes on the hormonal characteristics of the patient's body. With a central benign tumor of the lung, a person first arrives in the so-called asymptomatic period. In other words, the tumor does not manifest itself outwardly, it can only be detected by chance during the examination.

At the next stage, “bells” from the formation begin, such as narrowing of the lumen in the bronchus, cough (sometimes with sputum), and shortness of breath. If the tumor has developed to a decent size (a person can only take a breath), emphysema begins. With bronchial occlusion, an inflammatory process develops, which is associated with the stagnation of biological material, which is separated from the mucous membranes of the bronchi. Occlusion provokes a rise in temperature.

If no treatment is taken, then along with the symptoms described above, there will be:

weight loss
weakness;
hemoptysis;
wheezing when listening to the patient by a doctor;
trembling in the voice;
decrease in performance.

Peripheral tumors (until they grow) usually do not manifest themselves in a symptomatic way. Therefore, most often they are discovered by chance during a routine examination or at the moment when they grow and begin to interfere with breathing and cause pain in the region of the heart.

Malignant neoplasms give slightly different symptoms. In the early stages of their development, they cause:

slight increase in body temperature;
weakness;
fatigue even from elementary affairs;
general ailments.

In general, the condition is similar to that observed in SARS, with the difference that it constantly recurs and worsens.

In the following stages, a cough appears (first dry, then with purulent sputum, which may contain particles of blood). Bleeding may also begin, due to damage to the pulmonary vessels by an oncological neoplasm. When the tumor grows into the pleura and chest wall, the patient will begin to suffer from severe pain in the chest area. In the later stages of cancer, there will be exhaustion of the body, pain throughout the body (due to extensive organ metastasis) and weight loss.

Tumor Treatment Methods

A benign neoplasm should be treated only if it increases in size, interferes with life, worsens general well-being. Surgery is used for treatment. If the tumor is localized in the lumen of the bronchus, the operation is performed using an endoscope.
Still, most often they carry out a conventional abdominal operation, during which they can remove:

only education itself;
body of the tumor and part of the lung;
lung segment or entire lung lobe.

The volume of the operation will depend on the size of the tumor and the results of the histological examination.

Cancer is treated with:

surgical operation;
chemotherapy;
radiation or radiotherapy;
palliative methods.

During a surgical operation, depending on its location, it can be removed:

the entire lung lobe;
only the body of the tumor (the so-called marginal resection);
completely all lung - pneumonectomy;
not only the affected lung, but also the organs adjacent to it, which could have suffered from a tumor (combined operation).

Chemotherapy is used to fight small cell cancer. Since it has a particularly detrimental effect on this type of cancer.

Radiation therapy (alone or in tandem with chemotherapy) gives good results in the third and fourth stages of cancer, when surgery is not possible due to the formation of metastases. The main disadvantage of these two methods is that they have a detrimental effect not only on cancer cells, but also on healthy human cells.

Palliative treatments are used in the last 4 stages of lung cancer, when it is impossible to cure the disease completely due to extensive metastasis. But it is possible to alleviate the suffering of the patient, support him and prolong his life at least a little bit. As part of palliative therapy, they use: chemotherapy, surgery, strong painkillers, radiation therapy and other methods.

A benign tumor in the lungs is a pathological neoplasm that occurs due to a violation of cell division. The development of the process is accompanied by a qualitative change in the structure of the organ in the affected area.

The growth of benign tumors is accompanied by symptoms characteristic of many pulmonary pathologies. Treatment of such neoplasms involves the removal of problematic tissues.

What is a benign tumor

Benign tumors (blastomas) of the lungs acquire an oval (rounded) or nodular shape as they grow. Such neoplasms consist of elements that have retained the structure and functions of healthy cells.

Benign tumors are not prone to degeneration into cancer. With the growth of tissues, neighboring cells gradually atrophy, as a result of which a connective tissue capsule forms around the blastoma.

Lung neoplasms of a benign nature are diagnosed in 7-10% of patients with oncological pathologies localized in this organ. Most often, tumors are detected in people under 35 years of age.

Pulmonary neoplasms are characterized by slow development. Sometimes the tumor process goes beyond the affected organ.

The reasons

The reasons for the appearance of neoplasms growing from the lung tissue have not been established. Researchers suggest that a genetic predisposition or gene mutations can provoke abnormal tissue growth.

Also, causative factors include prolonged exposure to toxins (including cigarette smoke), a prolonged course of pathologies of the respiratory system, and radiation.

Classification

Blastomas, depending on the zone of germination, are divided into central and peripheral. The first type develops from the bronchial cells that make up the inner walls. Neoplasms of central localization are able to grow into neighboring structures.

Peripheral neoplasms are formed from cells that make up the distal small bronchi or individual fragments of the lungs. This type of tumor is among the most common. Peripheral formations grow from the cells that make up the surface layer of the lung, or penetrate deep into the organ.

Depending on the direction in which the pathological process spreads, the following types of tumors are distinguished:

Endobronchial. They grow inside the bronchus, narrowing the lumen of the latter.
Extrabronchial. They grow out.
Intramural. Grow into the bronchi.

Depending on the histological structure, pulmonary neoplasms are classified into:

Mesodermal. This group includes lipomas and fibromas. The latter germinate from the connective tissue, and therefore they are distinguished by a dense structure.
Epithelial. Tumors of this type (adenomas, papillomas) occur in approximately 50% of patients. Formations often germinate from superficial cells, being localized in the center of the problem organ.
Neuroectodermal. Neurofibromas and neurinomas grow from Schwann cells, which are located in the myelin sheath. Neuroectodermal blastomas reach relatively small sizes. The process of formation of tumors of this type is accompanied by severe symptoms.
Disembryogenetic. Teratomas and hamartomas are among the congenital tumors. Dysembryogenetic blastomas are formed from fat cells and cartilage elements. Inside hamartomas and teratomas lie blood and lymphatic vessels, smooth muscle fibers. The maximum size is 10-12 cm.

Quote. The most common tumors are adenomas and hamartomas. Such formations occur in 70% of patients.

Adenoma

Adenomas are benign growths of epithelial cells. Similar neoplasms develop on the bronchial mucosa. Neoplasms are relatively small in size (up to 3 cm in diameter). In 80-90% of patients, this type of tumor is characterized by a central location.

Due to the localization of the tumor process, as the latter progresses, bronchial patency is impaired. The development of adenoma is accompanied by atrophy of local tissues. Ulcers in the problem area are less common.

Adenoma is classified into 4 types, of which carcinoid is detected more often than others (diagnosed in 81-86% of patients). Unlike other benign blastomas, these tumors tend to degenerate into cancer.

Fibroma

Fibroids, the size of which does not exceed 3 cm in diameter, consist of connective tissue structures. Such formations are diagnosed in 7.5% of patients with oncological diseases in the lungs.

Blastomas of this type are distinguished by central or peripheral localization. Neoplasms equally affect one or both lungs. In advanced cases, fibromas reach large sizes, occupying half of the chest.

Tumors of this type are characterized by a dense and elastic consistency. Fibroids do not turn into cancer.

Hamartoma

Dysembryogenetic neoplasms consist of adipose, connective, lymphoid, cartilaginous tissues. This type of blastoma occurs in 60% of patients with peripheral localization of the tumor process.

Hamartomas are distinguished by a smooth or finely tuberous surface. Neoplasms are able to germinate deep into the lung. Growth of hamartomas for a long time is not accompanied by severe symptoms. In extreme cases, congenital tumors may degenerate into cancer.

Papilloma

Papillomas are distinguished by the presence of a stroma of connective tissue. The surface of such growths is covered with papillary formations. Papillomas are mainly localized in the bronchi, often completely closing the lumen of the latter. Often neoplasms of this type, in addition to the pulmonary tract, affect the larynx and trachea.

Quote. Papillomas are prone to degeneration into cancer.

Rare types of tumors

Lipomas are among the rare growths of lung tissues. The latter consist of fat cells and are usually localized in the main or lobar bronchi. Lipomas are more often detected by chance during an X-ray examination of the lungs.

Fat growths are distinguished by a rounded shape, dense and elastic consistency. In addition to fat cells, lipomas include connective tissue septa.

Leiomyoma is also rare. Such growths develop from cells of smooth muscles, vessels or bronchial walls. Leiomyomas are mostly diagnosed in women.

Blastomas of this type outwardly resemble polyps, which are fixed to the mucous membrane with the help of their own base or legs. Some leiomyomas take the form of multiple nodules. The growths are characterized by slow development and the presence of a pronounced capsule. Because of these features, leiomyomas often reach large sizes.

Vascular tumors are diagnosed in 2.5-3.5% of patients with benign tumors in the lungs: hemangiopericytoma, capillary and cavernous hemangiomas, lymphagioma and hemangioendothelioma.

Growths are found on the peripheral and central parts of the affected organ. Hemangiomas are characterized by a rounded shape, a dense texture and the presence of a capsule of connective tissue. Vascular formations can grow up to 20 cm or more.

Quote. Hemangiopericytoma and hemangioendothelioma are characterized by rapid growth and a tendency to malignancy.

Teratomas are cystic cavities made up of various tissues. Differ in the presence of a clear capsule. Teratomas occur predominantly in young patients. Cysts of this type are characterized by slow growth and a tendency to rebirth.

In the case of a secondary infection, teratomas suppurate, which, when the membrane breaks, provokes an abscess or empyema of the lung. Teratomas are always localized in the peripheral part of the organ.

Neurogenic neoplasms (neurofibromas, chemodectomas, neuromas) occur in 2% of patients. Blastomas develop from the tissues of nerve fibers, affect one or two lungs at the same time and are located in the peripheral zone. Neurogenic tumors look like dense nodes with a pronounced capsule.

Tuberculomas that occur against the background of the course of pulmonary tuberculosis are among benign blastomas. These tumors develop due to the accumulation of caseous masses and inflamed tissues.

Other types of blastomas are also formed in the lungs: plasmacytoma (due to a violation of protein metabolism), xanthomas (consist of connective tissue or epithelium, neutral fats).

Symptoms

The nature of the clinical picture is determined by the type, size of benign blasts, the affected area. The direction of tumor growth and other factors play an equally important role in this.

Quote. Most benign blastomas develop asymptomatically. The first signs occur when the tumor reaches a large size.

Neoplasms of peripheral localization appear when blastomas compress adjacent tissues. In this case, the chest hurts, which indicates compression of local nerve endings or blood vessels. It is also possible to experience shortness of breath. When blood vessels are damaged, the patient coughs up blood.

The clinical picture in blastomas of central localization changes as the neoplasms grow. The initial stage of development of the tumor process is usually asymptomatic. Rarely, patients develop a wet cough with bloody discharge.

When the blastoma covers more than 50% of the bronchial lumen, an inflammatory process develops in the lungs, as evidenced by the following symptoms:

cough with sputum;
increased temperature body;
hemoptysis(rarely);
pain in the chest area;
increased fatigue;
general weakness.

In advanced cases, the course of the tumor process is often accompanied by suppuration of the lung tissue. At this stage, irreversible changes occur in the body. The following symptoms are characteristic of the last stage of the development of the tumor process:

persistent increase temperature body;
dyspnea with attacks of suffocation;
intense pain in the chest;
cough with secretions of pus and blood.

If blastomas grow into the surrounding lung tissue (the bronchial lumen remains free), the clinical picture of tumors is less pronounced.

In the case of the development of carcinomas (hormonally active neoplasm), patients experience hot flashes, bronchospasm, dyspeptic (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea) and mental disorders.

Diagnostics

The basis of diagnostic measures in case of suspected tumor process in the lungs is radiography. The method allows to identify the presence and localization of neoplasms.

For a detailed assessment of the nature of the tumor, computed tomography of the lungs is prescribed. Using this method, it is possible to identify fat and other cells that make up the blastoma.

If necessary, a CT scan is performed with the introduction of a contrast agent, due to which a benign tumor is differentiated from cancer, metastases and other neoplasms.

An important diagnostic method is bronchoscopy, through which problematic tissue is taken. The latter is sent for histological examination in order to exclude a malignant tumor. Bronchoscopy also shows the condition of the bronchi.

With peripheral localization of benign neoplasms, a puncture or aspiration biopsy is prescribed. For the diagnosis of vascular tumors, angiopulmonography is performed.

Treatment

Regardless of the type and nature of development, benign tumors in the lungs must be removed. The method is selected taking into account the localization of the blastoma.

Timely surgical intervention can reduce the risk of complications.

Tumors of central localization are removed by resection of the bronchus. Neoplasms on the legs are excised, after which the damaged tissues are sutured. To remove tumors with a wide base (most blastomas), a circular resection is used. This operation involves the imposition of interbronchial anastomosis.

If the course of the tumor process caused an abscess and other complications, excision of one (lobectomy) or two (bilobectomy) lobes of the lung is performed. If necessary, the doctor completely removes the problematic organ.

Peripheral blastomas in the lungs are treated by enucleation (husking), segmental or marginal resection. With papillomas on the legs, sometimes they resort to endoscopic removal. This method is considered less effective than the previous ones. After endoscopic removal, the likelihood of recurrence and internal bleeding remains.

If cancer is suspected, tumor tissue is sent for histological examination. If a malignant neoplasm is detected, a similar treatment is prescribed as for blastomas.

Prognosis and possible complications

The prognosis for benign lung blastomas is favorable in case of timely surgical intervention. Neoplasms of this type rarely recur.

Prolonged development of the tumor process contributes to a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of the lung, causing blockage of the bronchi. Because of this, the amount of oxygen entering the body decreases. Large tumors, squeezing blood vessels, provoke internal bleeding. A number of neoplasms eventually transform into cancer.

Prevention

Due to the lack of reliable data on the causes of the development of benign blasts in the lungs, specific measures for the prevention of tumors have not been developed.

To reduce the risk of neoplasms, it is recommended to abandon smoking, change your place of residence or work (if professional duties involve contact with aggressive environments), treat respiratory diseases in a timely manner.

Benign tumors in the lungs develop for a long time asymptomatic. Most neoplasms of this type do not have a significant effect on the patient's body. However, as the tumor process progresses, the efficiency of the lungs and bronchi decreases. Therefore, the treatment of blastoma is carried out with the help of surgical intervention.

Benign tumors of the respiratory systems develop from cells that resemble healthy ones in their properties and composition. This species makes up only about 10% of the total number of such localization. Most often they are found in people under 35 years of age.

A benign neoplasm usually has the appearance of a small nodule of a round or oval shape. Despite the similarity with healthy tissues, modern diagnostic methods make it possible to quickly find the difference in structure.

If the tumor does not lead to disruption of the bronchi, then sputum is practically not excreted. The larger it is, the more serious the cough begins.

In some cases, it is found:

rise in body temperature,
the appearance of shortness of breath,
chest pain.

An increase in body temperature is associated with a violation of the ventilation functions of the respiratory system and when an infection is attached to the disease. Shortness of breath is mainly characteristic in situations where the lumen of the bronchi is closed.

Even with a benign tumor, depending on its size, weakness, lack of appetite, and sometimes hemoptysis may appear. Patients themselves note that breathing becomes weaker, voice trembling appears.

Complications of neoplasm

If the disease was not detected in time, then tendencies to the formation of infiltrates and growth may appear. In the worst case, blockage of the bronchus or the entire lung occurs.

Complications are:

pneumonia,
malignancy (acquisition of the properties of a malignant tumor),
bleeding,
compression syndrome,
pneumofibrosis,
bronchiectasis.

Sometimes neoplasms increase to such a size that they compress vital structures. This leads to disturbances in the work of the whole organism.

Diagnostics

If a tumor in the respiratory tract is suspected, laboratory tests must be used. the first allow to reveal elastic fibers, a cellular substrate.

The second method is aimed at identifying the elements of education. It is carried out multiple times. Bronchoscopy allows for an accurate diagnosis.

X-ray examination is also carried out. A benign formation has an appearance in the pictures in the form of rounded shadows with clear, but not always smooth contours.

The photo shows a benign lung tumor - hamartoma

For differential diagnosis is carried out. It allows you to more accurately separate benign tumors from peripheral cancer, vascular tumors and other problems.

Treatment of a benign tumor in the lung

The most commonly proposed surgical treatment of tumors. The operation is carried out immediately after the discovery of the problem. This avoids the occurrence of irreversible changes in the lung, to prevent the possibility of transformation into a malignant formation.

For central localization, laser methods, ultrasonic and electrosurgical instruments are used. The latter are the most popular in modern clinics.

If the disease is peripheral in nature, it is carried out:

(removal of a section of the lung),
resection (removal of diseased tissue),
(removal of education without observing oncological principles).

In the earliest stages, the neoplasm can be removed through a bronchoscope, but sometimes bleeding becomes a consequence of such exposure. If the changes are irreversible, affecting the entire lung, then only pneumectomy remains (removal of the affected organ).

Alternative treatment

In order to alleviate the condition with a benign lung tumor, you can try folk methods.

One of the most popular herbs is celandine. One spoon must be brewed in 200 ml of boiling water, put in a steam bath for 15 minutes.

Then bring to the original volume. It is taken 100 ml twice a day.

Forecast

If therapeutic measures were carried out in a timely manner, then the repetition of the appearance of formations is rare.

Slightly less favorable prognosis for carcinoid. With a moderately differentiated species, the five-year survival rate is 90%, and with a poorly differentiated species, only 38%.

Video about a benign lung tumor:

Lung tumors in many cases are not malignant, i.e. the diagnosis of lung cancer in the presence of a tumor is not always made. Often, a lung tumor is benign in nature.

Nodules and dots in the lungs can be seen on an X-ray or CT scan. They are dense, small, round or oval patches of tissue surrounded by healthy lung tissue. The node can be one or more.

Statistically, Neoplasms in the lungs are most often benign if:

Patient under 40 years of age;
He does not smoke
The nodule was found to contain calcium;
Small knot.

benign lung tumor appears as a result of abnormal tissue growth and can develop in different parts of the lungs. Determining whether a lung tumor is benign or malignant is very important. And this should be done as early as possible, because early detection and treatment of lung cancer significantly increases the likelihood of a complete cure and, as a result, the survival of the patient.

Symptoms of a benign lung tumor

Benign nodules and tumors in the lungs are usually do not cause any symptoms. That is why almost always diagnosed by accident during a chest x-ray or CT scan.

However, they can cause the following disease symptoms:

Hoarseness;
Persistent cough or coughing up blood;
Dyspnea;
Feverish condition, especially if the disease is accompanied by pneumonia.

2. Causes of benign tumors

The reasons why benign lung tumors appear are poorly understood. But in general they often appear after health problems such as:

Inflammatory processes that have arisen due to infection:

Fungal infections - histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, aspergillosis;
Tuberculosis
lung abscess
Pneumonia

Inflammation not associated with infection:

Rheumatoid arthritis;
Wegener's granulomatosis;
Sarcoidosis.
Congenital pathologies such as lung cyst and others.

3. Types of tumors

Here are some of the more common types of benign lung tumors:

Hamartomas. Hamartomas are the most common type of benign lung tumor and one of the common causes of solitary pulmonary nodules. This type of marmoroid lung tumor is formed from the tissues of the lining of the lungs, as well as adipose and cartilage tissue. As a rule, hamartoma is located on the periphery of the lungs.
Bronchial adenoma. Bronchial adenoma accounts for about half of all benign lung tumors. It is a heterogeneous group of tumors that arise from the mucous glands and ducts of the trachea or the large airways of the lungs. Mucous adenoma is one example of a true benign bronchial adenoma.
Rare neoplasms of the lungs may appear in the form chondroma, fibroma, lipoma- benign tumors of the lung, consisting of connective or adipose tissue.

4. Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis of benign lung tumors

In addition to the X-ray examination and computed tomography for the diagnosis of lung tumors, which we have already mentioned, the diagnosis of the patient's health status may consist of control of the dynamics of tumor development for several years. Typically, this practice is used if the size of the nodule does not exceed 6 mm and the patient is not at risk for lung cancer. If the nodule stays the same size for at least two years, it is considered benign. This is due to the fact that benign lung tumors grow slowly if they grow at all. Cancers, on the other hand, double in size every four months. Further annual follow-up for at least five years will help to definitively confirm that the lung tumor is benign.

Benign lung nodules usually have smooth edges and a more even color over the entire surface. They are more regular in shape than cancerous nodules. In most cases, to check the growth rate, shape and other characteristics of the tumor (for example, calcification), it is sufficient chest x-ray or computed tomography (CT).

But it is possible that your doctor will prescribe and other studies especially if the tumor has changed in size, shape, or appearance. This is done to rule out lung cancer or determine the underlying cause of benign nodules.

Diagnosis may require:

Blood analysis;
Tuberculin tests to diagnose tuberculosis;
Positron emission tomography (PET);
Single photo-radiation CT (SPECT);
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, in rare cases);
Biopsy - taking a tissue sample and examining it under a microscope to determine if a lung tumor is benign or malignant.

A biopsy can be performed using various methods, such as needle aspiration or bronchoscopy.

Treatment of benign lung tumors

In many cases, specific treatment for a benign lung tumor is not required. Nonetheless, removal of the neoplasm may be recommended in case if:

You smoke and the knot is large;
Unpleasant symptoms of the disease appear;
The results of the examination give reason to believe that the lung tumor is malignant;
The knot increases in size.

If surgery is required to treat a lung tumor, it is performed by a thoracic surgeon. Modern techniques and qualifications of the thoracic surgeon allow you to perform the operation with small incisions, and reduce the time of stay in the hospital. If the removed nodule was benign, no further treatment is required unless the presence of the tumor was complicated by other problems, such as pneumonia or obstruction.

Sometimes the treatment requires more complex invasive surgery, during which the nodule or part of the lungs is removed. What kind of operation will be needed, the doctor decides, taking into account the location and type of tumor.