Not All That Wheezes Is Asthma—A Case Report of an Endobronchial Tumor in a Child

An endobronchial mass was found in a main-stem bronchus of a 13-year-old girl with a newonset "asthma." Biopsy of the mass revealed mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The condition was completely cured using a sleeve tumor resection and bronchoplasty. Endobronchial tumors are extremely rare in children. Their presentations often mimic asthma, which could lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. High index of suspicion in cases with unusual or "atypical" asthma necessitating diagnostic bronchoscopy and biopsy is the key to an early surgical intervention, which generally results in a favorable outcome.