Palliative Cryotherapy of Aggressive Endobronchial Parotid Carcinoma ex Pleomorphic Adenoma: A Case Report

Abstract

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is a rare salivary gland malignancy with a poor prognosis that can metastasize to the lungs. Endobronchial metastasis and associated bronchoscopic characteristics have not been described in the literature. Cryotherapy is a safe and efficacious palliative treatment option for obstructive bronchial tumors that can be performed with flexible bronchoscopy. We report the successful use of cryotherapy for the palliation of an aggressive parotid malignancy with extraordinary endobronchial metastases and describe bronchoscopic characteristics of this unique entity.