Primary Pulmonary Teratoma: Report of a Case and the Proposition of "Bronchotrichosis" as a New Term

Abstract

Primary pulmonary teratoma is a very rare disease. Most follow a benign course and are incidental findings during routine chest X-rays. Hair found in sputum or in bronchus detected during bronchoscopy is also a rare condition and is usually caused by mediastinal teratoma. This case report is of a 36-year-old man who presented with halitosis. A fiber-optic bronchoscopy revealed coarse hair originated from the right upper lobe. The patient was successfully treated by right upper lobectomy, and pathology confirmed primary pulmonary teratoma. We recommend that "bronchotrichosis" could be used as a new term for such a sign. (Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009; 15: 247-249)