Papillomas of the Tracheobronchial Tree with Malignant Degeneration

Papillomas are rare tumors of the respiratory tract, which are usually considered benign. We studied a male patient with adult onset of squamous papillomatosis involving both the trachea and the bronchi, with malignant degeneration. When we obtained specimens bronchoscopically, only the bronchial lesions showed carcinomatous changes. Thoracotomy demonstrated carcinoma in the tracheal lesion as well. We conclude that transbronchoscopic biopsy may be inadequate in the evaluation of papillomatosis.