Lipoma causing total destruction of a lung - The folly of delayed treatment

Lipoma are rare in the endobronchial location and may cause bronchial obstruction, pneumonia and subsequent severe pulmonary parenchymal damage. Accurate early diagnosis and appropriate intervention prevents irreversible distal complications and obviates unnecessary pulmonary resection and carries excellent prognosis. We describe an interesting case of endobronchial lipoma of the left main bronchus resulting in chronic obstruction and bronchiectasis. Unfortunate delay in treatment resulted in a destroyed left lung, requiring left pneumonectomy.