Benign tumors of the lung or bronchi are relatively rare. The more commonly seen types in clinical practice include hamartomas, chondromas, fibromas, leiomyomas, hemangiomas, lipomas, and tumors such as bronchial cystadenoma or papilloma.
Pulmonary hamartoma is one of the more common benign lung tumors. It is a benign tumor formed from a disordered arrangement of various normal tissues from the bronchial wall, predominantly composed of cartilage but potentially also including glandular tissue, fibrous tissue, smooth muscle, and fat. It is characterized by a complete capsule and slow growth. Most occur in peripheral regions of the lung, particularly near the pleura or along interlobar fissures. These tumors are more frequently observed in young and middle-aged men. In general, they are asymptomatic and are often discovered incidentally during chest X-ray or CT examinations. The tumor typically appears as a rounded, oval, or lobulated mass with well-defined borders, and may contain calcifications. The classic feature is "popcorn-like" calcification.
The treatment involves wedge resection or lobectomy. If the tumor is superficial and small, an enucleation procedure may also be performed.