Open AccessMetastasis in the subcarinal lymph node with unknown primary tumor
Author(s) -
Eckardt Jens,
Olsen Karen Ege,
Petersen Henrik
Publication year - 2011
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/j.1759-7714.2010.00039.x
Subject(s) - medicine , esophagus , lymph node , radiology , mediastinoscopy , lymphoma , primary tumor , metastasis , carcinoma , pathology , lymph , thoracotomy , mediastinum , cancer , surgery
A 59‐year‐old man with previous anaplastic large cell T‐cell lymphoma stage 3A was admitted with an isolated positron emission tomography(PET)‐positive spot in a subcarinal lymph node. Diagnosis was achieved with endobronchial ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration demonstrating a well‐differentiated squamous cell carcinoma but no primary tumor was visible on PET‐computed tomography. Because of his previous lymphoma the patient was scheduled for mediastinoscopy where the diagnosis was confirmed. Subsequent gastroscopy was normal and a right‐sided thoracotomy showed no evidence of cancer elsewhere, only an inoperable metastasis in a subcarinal lymph node which infiltrated the trachea, esophagus and aorta. Such isolated squamous cell carcinoma in a subcarinal lymph node without a primary tumor despite invasive work‐up has not been reported before.