Pulmonary adenocarcinoma presenting as a giant pleural mass
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《胸》
1 Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, Gunma, Japan
2 First Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan
Correspondence to:
Dr K Kaira
Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, Department of Respiratory Medicine, 3-21-36 Asahi-cho, Maebashi, Gunma 377-0014, Japan; k-kaira@maebashi.jrc.or.jp
Keywords: lung cancer; giant pleural mass
A 57 year old female non-smoker with no asbestos exposure was admitted with right chest pain and fever. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a huge mass occupying the right hemithorax (fig 1). She underwent right posterolateral thoractomy following a negative bronchoscopic examination with transbronchial lung biopsy and transthoracic needle biopsy. A giant, well circumscribed, lobulated solitary tumour 13 cm in diameter attached with a pedicle to the visceral pleura was surgically removed (fig 2A). Macroscopically, the tumour was nearly protruding into the pleural space, compressing the right lower lobe upwards and presenting as a pleural mass. Histological examination showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung (fig 2B). A CT scan performed 12 months after surgery showed a well defined homogeneous mass abutting the pleura in the right lung. The most likely diagnosis was a local relapse of adenocarcinoma of the lung. She was treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and docetaxel and gefinitib. With no evidence of distant metastasis and no efficacy of chemotherapy, right lateral thoracotomy was performed. Pathological examination showed a recurrence of adenocarcinoma of the lung. The patient remains healthy 36 months after the initial diagnosis.
Figure 1 (A) T1-weighted coronal and (B) sagittal MR images showing a heterogeneous mass in the right lower hemithorax (curved arrows) associated with compression and displacement of the right lower lobe (straight arrow) and right hemidiaphragm.
Figure 2 (A) Gross pathological specimen showing a yellowish encapsulated mass attached with a pedicle to the visceral pleura (arrow). (B) Histological section showing poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.
Pulmonary adenocarcinoma with a localised extrapulmonary growth pattern presenting as a localised pleural tumour has not previously been described. Primary lung cancer mimicking pleural neoplasm—"pseudomesotheliomatous carcinoma"—is considered to represent a type of peripheral lung adenocarcinoma with a distinctive diffuse growth pattern.1 The clinical similarities between the present case and pseudomesotheliomatous carcinoma are the marked extrapulmonary growth and the presence of a small subpleural nodule. Although the pattern of recurrence also showed a localised pleural mass, surgery for metastases can improve survival.
Leaning points
Pulmonary adenocarcinoma with a localised extrapulmonary growth pattern presenting as a giant localised pleural mass is extremely rare.
The differential diagnosis of a large localised pleural tumour includes peripheral bronchial carcinoma.
Even if the pattern of recurrence reveals a localised mass, surgery for recurrence is controversial as there is a possibility of micrometastases, but it may improve survival in highly selected patients with lung cancer.(K Kaira1, A Takise1, G Ko)
2 First Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan
Correspondence to:
Dr K Kaira
Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, Department of Respiratory Medicine, 3-21-36 Asahi-cho, Maebashi, Gunma 377-0014, Japan; k-kaira@maebashi.jrc.or.jp
Keywords: lung cancer; giant pleural mass
A 57 year old female non-smoker with no asbestos exposure was admitted with right chest pain and fever. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a huge mass occupying the right hemithorax (fig 1). She underwent right posterolateral thoractomy following a negative bronchoscopic examination with transbronchial lung biopsy and transthoracic needle biopsy. A giant, well circumscribed, lobulated solitary tumour 13 cm in diameter attached with a pedicle to the visceral pleura was surgically removed (fig 2A). Macroscopically, the tumour was nearly protruding into the pleural space, compressing the right lower lobe upwards and presenting as a pleural mass. Histological examination showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung (fig 2B). A CT scan performed 12 months after surgery showed a well defined homogeneous mass abutting the pleura in the right lung. The most likely diagnosis was a local relapse of adenocarcinoma of the lung. She was treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and docetaxel and gefinitib. With no evidence of distant metastasis and no efficacy of chemotherapy, right lateral thoracotomy was performed. Pathological examination showed a recurrence of adenocarcinoma of the lung. The patient remains healthy 36 months after the initial diagnosis.
Figure 1 (A) T1-weighted coronal and (B) sagittal MR images showing a heterogeneous mass in the right lower hemithorax (curved arrows) associated with compression and displacement of the right lower lobe (straight arrow) and right hemidiaphragm.
Figure 2 (A) Gross pathological specimen showing a yellowish encapsulated mass attached with a pedicle to the visceral pleura (arrow). (B) Histological section showing poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.
Pulmonary adenocarcinoma with a localised extrapulmonary growth pattern presenting as a localised pleural tumour has not previously been described. Primary lung cancer mimicking pleural neoplasm—"pseudomesotheliomatous carcinoma"—is considered to represent a type of peripheral lung adenocarcinoma with a distinctive diffuse growth pattern.1 The clinical similarities between the present case and pseudomesotheliomatous carcinoma are the marked extrapulmonary growth and the presence of a small subpleural nodule. Although the pattern of recurrence also showed a localised pleural mass, surgery for metastases can improve survival.
Leaning points
Pulmonary adenocarcinoma with a localised extrapulmonary growth pattern presenting as a giant localised pleural mass is extremely rare.
The differential diagnosis of a large localised pleural tumour includes peripheral bronchial carcinoma.
Even if the pattern of recurrence reveals a localised mass, surgery for recurrence is controversial as there is a possibility of micrometastases, but it may improve survival in highly selected patients with lung cancer.(K Kaira1, A Takise1, G Ko)