
Bronchial adenoma is the occurrence of benign tumors in the bronchi or the windpipe resulting in the blockage of the airway. Because of this, a person can suffer from various health complications. This article focuses on the symptoms of bronchial adenoma, so that the condition can be identified as soon as possible.
As the term suggests, ‘bronchial adenoma’ is the condition wherein the occurrence of a variety of tumors in the bronchi (which is the term used to represent large airways in the lungs) and the windpipe takes place in the mucous glands and ducts. These tumors are known as adenoma. The tumors present in the mucous glands are usually benign in nature. Which means that they are unlikely to become cancerous.
However, the tumors present otherwise can vary in their potential to turn malignant. The good news is that mostly these tumors are very slow in spreading to other areas, but may cause a lot of health concerns because of the blockage of the airways. The reason as to why some people get these tumors and some don’t, is unknown, however, there are some known signs and symptoms for the same which can help you identify the condition as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Bronchial Adenoma
It would be a little difficult to identify the presence of these tumors initially because they tend to spread very slowly and the size of the tumors are relatively small initially. Due to this, a person may not experience any symptoms initially. The emergence of symptoms also depends upon the way the tumors have emerged within the glands and ducts of the airways. If the tumors have occurred in the central region, then a person is likely to experience some significant signs and symptoms. However, if the tumors are peripherally located, then there are hardly any symptoms. Some of the common symptoms are mentioned as follows.
Breathing Problems
Probably the first and foremost symptom that you will experience is dyspnea, which is another term used for breathing difficulty and shortness of breath. This occurs because of the obstruction caused by the tumors in the airways.
Bloody Cough and Sputum
This is considered to be one of the most crucial signs of bronchial adenoma advancing towards becoming a serious disease, especially if the cough is lasting for more than 6 weeks! The obstruction due to presence of tumors can result in erosion of the lung tissue which can cause bleeding. Therefore, if you see blood in your sputum or even while coughing, then consult your healthcare specialist immediately.
Wheezing and Stridor
Do you hear a whistling sound in your chest while breathing? This sound is known as wheezing and is caused when a person tries to breathe in through narrowed airways, which is a result of the obstruction and blockage caused by the tumors. Stridor is also a term which means producing unusual sounds from narrowed airways.
Fever
The obstruction, ulceration, can lead to infection within the tissue of lungs, due to which fever can also occur along with other symptoms like coughing with sputum and breathing difficulty.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is nothing but the inflammation of the lungs due to an infection or a serious disease. Usually, bronchial adenoma leads to pneumonia relapse among patients, which resolves very slowly.
If you can identify with the symptoms and signs listed above, then do not fail to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor would conduct various tests and examinations like chest x-ray, CT scan and MRI scans to diagnose the condition and check the status of the tumors. The standard bronchial adenoma treatment includes a bronchoscopic surgery (for removal of small tumors in the airways), a video assisted thoracic surgery (Also known as VATS), or an open lung surgery.
The kind of surgery would depend on your individual case, therefore consulting with your doctor as soon as possible is a must to avoid further complications including bronchiectasis, the tumors becoming malignant with passage of time and spreading to the nearby areas. So take good care of yourself and have a safe tomorrow.