Open AccessLung adenocarcinoma with repetitive endotracheal/endobronchial metastasis 20 years after surgery: A case report
Author(s) -
Maki Yohei,
Kimizuka Yoshifumi,
Sasaki Hisashi,
Yamamoto Takayuki,
Watanabe Chie,
Sano Tomoya,
Tagami Yoichi,
Misawa Kazuhisa,
Miyata Jun,
Fujikura Yuji,
Shimazaki Hideyuki,
Kawana Akihiko
Publication year - 2021
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 - 10.1111/1759-7714.13730
Subject(s) - medicine , adenocarcinoma , lymphatic system , lung , metastasis , lesion , primary tumor , lung cancer , lymphovascular invasion , immunohistochemistry , pathology , bronchus , adenocarcinoma of the lung , respiratory disease , cancer
The occurrence of endotracheal/endobronchial metastasis (EEM) after complete resection of a primary lung cancer is rare. Here, we report the case of an 86‐year‐old woman in whom EEM occurred twice over a 20‐year period following complete resection of a primary adenocarcinoma localized to the left main bronchus and trachea. The presence of EEM was confirmed by establishing immunohistochemical homology of the metastases with the primary tumor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of repetitive EEM of primary lung adenocarcinoma. Lymphatic invasion in the primary lesion suggested that a possible route for EEM was the peripheral lymphatic tract, explaining the slow recurrence rate. We conclude that observation of the trachea/bronchus over a long period post operation could be important in monitoring for EEM, particularly if lymphatic invasion is confirmed in the primary tumor.