Affiliations 

  • 1 Sarawak General Hospital, Respiratory Medicine Unit, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. bzk99@hotmail.com
  • 2 Sarawak General Hospital, Respiratory Medicine Unit, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 3 Sarawak General Hospital, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Med J Malaysia, 2018 12;73(6):403-404.
PMID: 30647213

Abstract

Malignant central airway obstruction (CAO) with ball valve effect (BVE) in the lung is rare. We discuss a case of metastatic colon cancer who presented with asthma like symptoms which thoracic computed tomography and bronchoscopy revealed an intraluminal tumour obstructing the left main bronchus in a ball valve manner. Airway patency was restored urgently with immediate alleviation of symptoms. This illustrates the importance of recognizing subtle features of central airway obstruction to allow expedition of appropriate investigations and therapy.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.