Open AccessPulmonary high‐grade fetal adenocarcinoma associated with cystic airspace: A case report
Author(s) -
Ishida Hironori,
Yasuda Masanori,
Nitanda Hiroyuki,
Yanagihara Akitoshi,
Taguchi Ryo,
Yoshimura Ryuichi,
Umesaki Tetsuya,
Sakaguchi Hirozo,
Shimizu Yoshihiko
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.13407
Subject(s) - medicine , adenocarcinoma , lung , cyst , asymptomatic , fetus , radiology , computed tomography , pathology , cancer , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Lung cancers associated with cystic airspaces have a life‐threatening risk of a missed or delayed diagnosis. Here, we report a case of pulmonary high‐grade fetal adenocarcinoma, a rare lung carcinoma associated with cystic airspaces, as confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan. A 73‐year‐old asymptomatic male with a 52‐pack a year smoking habit was referred to our hospital. Lung CT showed a thin‐walled cystic space with exophytic and endophytic solid nodules along the cyst wall. After surgery, histological analysis of a resected lung specimen revealed a pure high‐grade fetal adenocarcinoma probably associated with emphysematous bullae in pulmonary emphysema, suggesting smoking contributed to this pure form, as well as the emphysema. In conclusion, when treating elderly men with a smoking history, physicians need to carefully examine the walls of cystic airspaces on CT for fetal adenocarcinoma. Key points Significant findings of the study • Pulmonary high‐grade fetal adenocarcinoma may be associated with emphysematous bullae manifesting as cystic air spaces as shown by computed tomography.What this study adds • When scanning by computed tomography, physicians should carefully examine the pulmonary cystic airspace walls in elderly men with a smoking history.