Histogenesis of intrapulmonary and endobronchial hamartomas and chondromas (cartilage-containing tumors): a hypothesis

ABSTRACT

A study of selected examples from a series of 42 cartilage-containing tumors of the lung support the hypothesis that intrapulmonary hamartomas and chondromas and endobranchial hamartomas and chondromas are the same lesion and are neoplasms that arise in the connective tissue of the bronchial walls. The apparent differences in the appearance of these neoplasms are due to their site of origin. i.e., whether they arise in large or small bronchi, and their direction of growth, i.e., whether they grow into or away from the lumen of the bronchus of origin. They should all be referred to as cartilage containing tumors of the lung and bronchi. (Summary)