A case of primary lung cancer complicated with hypothyroidism by diffuse thyroid metastasis]

A 56-year-old woman with hypothyroidism was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal chest X-ray film. The chest CT showed a 3-cm spiculated tumor in the left lingual branch, and multiple nodular shadows with random distribution. Cervical CT showed diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland with low density. The cytology of the tumor in the left lingular branch revealed adenocarcinoma, and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid gland revealed adenocarcinoma, cytologically identical to the cells from bronchoscopic examination. Immunochemically, specimens obtained from both bronchoscopy and the thyroid gland were negative for thyroglobulin. Therefore, we diagnosed this case as primary lung cancer complicated with hypothyroidism by diffuse metastasis of the thyroid gland. Metastatic thyroid tumor is rarely diagnosed clinically. Furthermore, metastatic thyroid tumor complicated with thyroid dysfunction is extremely rare. We conclude that in patients with both diffuse thyroid swelling and thyroid dysfunction, the possibility of metastatic thyroid tumor should be considered.     

Primary lung cancer with myocardial metastasis mimicking acute myocardial infarction]

A 78-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of chest and back pain. Fourteen months previously his chest X-ray showed a tumor shadow with cavitation in the left middle field. On admission cardiomegaly was found. Chest CT without contrast enhancement did not detect an intra-myocardial tumor. The electrocardiogram and serological examination suggested acute onset of myocardial infarction. However, emergency coronary angiography detected neither significant stenosis nor occlusion. Thereafter, chest CT with contrast medium demonstrated an intra-myocardial tumor. There wes no pericardial effusion. We clinically diagnosed a myocardial tumor metastatic from lung cancer. He received symptomatic treatment, but died on the 31st hospital day. Autopsy revealed that most of the myocardium had been replaced by lung cancer cells. They did not invading the pericardium directly. These findings supported the clinical diagnosis that myocardial tumor was hematogenous metastasis from lung cancer.     

A case of synchronous primary lung cancer with hamartoma]

We present a case of a synchronous primary lung cancer adjacent to a hamartoma. In a 48-year-old man, a nodular shadow was found in the right middle lung field in 1990, and had grown slowly for 10 years. Another mass shadow was detected in the right upper lung field in 2000. The patient was admitted to our hospital for further examination of these abnormal shadows. Bronchoscopic examination revealed, in the right upper lobe, a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of clinical stage IIIB. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by pneumonectomy was performed. The microscopic findings for the tumor resected from the right S2 showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and those for the other, in the right S3, showed chondromatous hamartoma. Some 50 reports of lung cancer in parents with a chondromatous hamartoma have appeared in the literature. Most of these cases have some common features as follows: 1) men past middle age, 2) adenocarcinoma, and 3) lung cancer and chondromatous hamartoma present in the same lobe. The present case had all of these features, and may assist in the understanding of the process of development of lung cancer adjacent to a hamartoma.     

A case of chest wall rhabdomyosarcoma]

A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with right chest pain. Chest X-ray, CT scan and MRI revealed a chest wall tumor and enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Percutaneous lung biopsy was performed, and the pathological diagnosis of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma was obtained. The only significant abnormal laboratory finding was elevation of serum NSE (24.5 ng/ml). Although chemotherapy (VAC-ADM) and radiation therapy were performed, the patient died about 7 months after admission. To our knowledge, only 17 cases of chest wall rhabdomyosarcoma have been reported in Japan.     

Pulmonary dirofilariasis mimicking lung tumor with chest wall and mediastinal invasion

We present a case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis, diagnosed in a 55-year-old heavy smoker (male) by wedge resection of the pulmonary lesion and histologic examination. The dirofilaria lesion had the clinical and radiographic appearance of a peripheral pulmonary lesion invading the anterior chest wall and mediastinum. The reported radiographic image of the disease is different from the usually described picture of a pulmonary coin lesion.     

A case of pyogenic spondylitis mimicking a spinal invasion of lung cancer]

A 58-year old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of right back pain, fever, abdominal fullness and epigastralgia. Chest CT revealed a mass shadow in the right S6 together with destruction of the thoracic vertebrae. These findings suggested lung cancer and its spinal invasion. A transbronchial lung biopsy specimen showed inflammatory lymphocyte infiltration. MRI T2 image of the spine showed a high intensity at the Th7/8 disc space, suggesting pyogenic spondylitis. After broad-spectrum antibiotics including PAMP/BP and CLDM were administered, both the spinal lesion and the pulmonary lesion improved gradually. The clinical course suggested that the pulmonary inflammatory lesion had spread from pyogenic spondylitis. In our case, the pyogenic spondylitis was mimicking a spinal invasion of lung cancer. In addition, MRI is thought to be useful for diagnosing spinal lesions.     

A case of primary lung cancer in a young female with tongue cancer]

We describe a case of lung tumor in a 33-year-old woman with tongue cancer. She had noticed a painful sensation in her tongue in April 2000. The results of a physical examination showed a 22 x 11 mm ulcerated lesion on the right side of her tongue. A biopsy specimen showed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A preoperative chest radiograph showed no evidence of pulmonary metastasis. No neck lymphadenopathy was found. The tongue cancer was resected in September 2000, and the pathological stage was T2 N0 M0. A solitary pulmonary lesion appeared 8 months after the surgery. A Histological examination of a transbronchial lung biopsy specimen showed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. It was difficult to distinguish histopathologically or immunohistochemically between a second primary tumor and a metastasis, but the pulmonary lesion was considered to be a second primary tumor on the basis of a single endobronchial lesion that appeared after the T2 tongue cancer with no regional recurrence or cervical lymphadenopathy. Treatment with chemotherapy and irradiation was not effective and the patient died 3 months after the diagnosis of lung cancer.     

A case of spontaneous regression of lung cancer with skin metastasis]

Spontaneous regression of a malignant tumor is a rare phenomenon, especially in advanced lung cancer. We reported a case of spontaneous regression of lung cancer with tracheal stenosis due to tumor invasion and multiple skin metastases. A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital on September 10, 1985, because of a dry cough. A chest roentgenogram showed a mass shadow in the right upper lung field. Bronchoscopic examination revealed tracheal stenosis due to the tumor mass, and transbronchial aspiration cytology (TBAC) yielded a diagnosis of large cell carcinoma of the lung. In spite of treatment by chemotherapy with cisplatin and vindesin and irradiation, dyspnea deteriorated and multiple skin metastases appeared. After Nd-YAG laser irradiation via a broncho-fiberscope to maintain his airway and ethanol injection into the skin metastases, his dyspnea improved and he was discharged on February 6, 1986. Two months after discharge all skin metastasis had completely disappeared, and the primary lesion also regressed and finally disappeared on chest roentgenogram until August, 1986. The mechanism of regression is unclear, but now he has been free of tumor clinically for four years.     

A case of stage IV primary lung cancer with no metastasis except in the choroid plexus]

A 69-year-old man become aware of myiodesopsia. He visited the Department of Ophthalmology at Keio University Hospital and choroidal metastasis of the right eye was diagnosed. A tumor shadow was detected in the lower lobe of the left lung on chest radiographs, and the serum CEA concentration was found to be significantly increased. Through bronchoscopic examinations, he was confirmed to have primary lung cancer (histological classification: adenocarcinoma). Although detailed systemic examinations were performed, no metastasis to lymph nodes or distant organs except the choroid plexus was detected, which is very rare in a case of stage IV primary lung cancer. In conclusion, it is suggested to be very important to look for ophthalmological abnormalities, even in the case of apparently early lung cancer that seems to be resectable.     

Streptococcus pneumoniae: A cause of primary lung abscess in a child

A case of primary pneumococcal lung abscess in a five-year-old child is described. Secondary anaerobic infection as a cause of cavitation was excluded by bronchoscopic culture of the cavity. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare but recognized cause of lung abscess in healthy children.     

A case of primary lung cancer with cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis]

A 66-year-old woman was admitted due to right cervical lymphadenopathy and an abnormal chest radiograph. Acid-fast bacilli smear of fine needle aspiration from a right cervical lymph node was positive. Histopathological examination of the specimen obtained by percutaneous right cervical lymph node biopsy showed necrotizing epithelioid granulomas and no malignant cells. Therefore, right cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis was diagnosed. Partial lung resection of the right S4 was carried out by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and primary lung cancer was diagnosed. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of both primary lung cancer and cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis being present at the time of the first examination. We report this very rare case.     

原发性肝癌胸壁皮肤转移1例报告

正肝癌常见的转移途径有血行转移、淋巴转移、种植转移和直接浸润,而以肝内血行转移最早、最为常见。肝癌细胞侵犯肝静脉后即可进入体循环,发生肝外远处转移,以肺转移发生率最高,其次为肾上腺、骨、卵巢等,皮肤转移者较为少见,仅占所有皮肤转移癌的0.2%~2.7%[1]。本文报道1例原发性肝癌胸壁皮肤转移患者。1病例资料患者男性,46岁,因"发现肝占位3月余,腹胀、乏力1个     

A case of miliary tuberculosis and chest wall cold tuberculous abscess with contents draining into the epidural space]

A 37-year-old man was admitted because of miliary tuberculosis. However, his fever and general condition did not improve with chemotherapy. Six months later, paraplegia occurred following sudden radicular back pain without any alteration of segmental sensation. There were no abnormal findings on X-ray films of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Examination by magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the contents of a cold tuberculous abscess in the right chest wall had drained into the epidural space through the intervertebral foramen. Drainage of the chest wall abscess and laminectomy were performed. Further investigation showed that this case did not belong to the usual type of atypical spinal tuberculosis reported previously.     

A case of surgically treated primary lung cancer with myasthenia gravis]

A 62-year-old woman, who had received immunosuppressive treatment for myasthenia gravis, was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of a right pulmonary tumor. In October 2003, a chest computed tomography showed a nodule-like lesion in the right lung. Two years later, the lesion was shown to have increased in size, and a right upper lobectomy was performed using video-assisted thoracic surgery. A tumor biopsy showed histological features of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. It has been reported that malignant tumors occur more frequently in patients with myasthenia gravis with concurrent thymoma. Therefore, such patients need to be followed closely for a long period of time for any possible malignant tumor occurring in different organs. In addition, protection of the bronchial stump may be necessary to prevent a bronchial fistula, because wound healing can be delayed due to immunosuppressive treatment.     

A case of non-small-cell lung cancer with intramedullary spinal cord metastasis diagnosed pre-mortem]

The patient was a 54-year-old man who in May 1999 received a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, T4 N2 M1, stage IV. Systemic chemotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery were performed only to result in further progression of the disease. In August 1999, he experienced gait disturbance due to lumbar pain. Rehabilitation improved the gait disturbance and he was discharged. In October, since the pain reappeared and there was numbness in the right leg, he was readmitted. Brain MRI revealed multiple brain metastasis and whole brain irradiation was performed. But his symptoms deteriorated, and palsy of the right leg ensued. Later, bladder dysfunction also developed. Since spinal cord MRI revealed intramedullary metastasis at Th 12 and L1 levels, we performed radiotherapy for the lumbar medullary lesion, together with systemic chemotherapy. After chemoradiotherapy the tumor size decreased and the pain improved. Cases of lung cancer with intramedullary metastasis are rare, especially those diagnosed before death.     

A case of acute osteomyelitis and subperiosteal abscess caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, presumably triggered by influenza A virus

A feverish 5-year-old girl diagnosed with influenza A virus from a positive rapid influenza type A antigen test, and suffering pain and redness in her left knee had febrile convulsions and was admitted. Her knee pain and redness increased. She was diagnosed with acute osteomyelitis and subperiosteal abscess based on MRI. We started intravenous antibiotics and punctured and drained the abscess. S. pyogenes was isolated from blood and puncture pus culture and a rapid group A beta hemolytic Streptococcal antigen test was positive in a throat swab. After 10 days' drainage and 28 days' antibiotics treatment, she was discharged. Viral superinfections aggravate S. pyogenes infection both in animal models and human cases. This case gives futher evidence that superinfectious influenza A virus is a risk factor for severe S. pyogenes infection.     

Intravenous pamidronate delivery to a case with multiple bone metastasis of breast cancer]

MRI and bone scintigraphy of a 64-year-old woman admitted with severe lumbago showed multiple metastatic bone cancer mainly on vertebrae, and breast cancer was found by mammography. After enucleation was performed, treatment with tegafur, tamoxifen and oral bisphosphonate/etidronate was started. Because symptoms associated with bone metastasis worsened, we began to administer 30 mg of pamidronate intravenously every 4 weeks. Since that time the extent of metastasis has been inhibited, resulting in ameliorated lumbodynia and improved quality of life.     

A case of small cell lung cancer with an initial symptom of breast metastasis]

We report a case of small cell lung cancer with an initial symptom of breast metastasis. A 55-year-old woman was admitted complaining of multiple breast masses. Chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a left hilar mass. Specimens obtained from a breast mass and transbronchial biopsy revealed neoplastic cells suggesting small cell carcinoma Small cell lung cancer with breast metastasis was diagnosed. Systemic chemotherapy resulted in partial remission of the primary lesion and breast metastases.     

A case of Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary infection with vertebral osteomyelitis

A 78-year-old woman seen in June 2005 for chest abnormal shadows after 3 months of steroid therapy for vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies was found in chest computed tomography (CT) revealed bronchiectasis and small nodules in the right middle lobe and left lingula. Sputum cultures were positive for Mycobacterium intracellulare. Based on a diagnosis of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteriosis, the woman underwent antimycobacterial therapy with clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol hydrochloride for 10 months. She was then admitted in June 2009 with right chest pain. Chest CT showed consolidation shadows with bronchiectasis in the right middle lobe and the left lingula and left pleural effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that Th7-Th8 vertebral bodies had collapsed. A vertebral body specimen obtained by CT-guided biopsy was positive for M. intracellulare. Based on a diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis due to M. intracellulare, she underwent antimycobacterial therapy with clarithromycin (800 mg), rifampicin (450 mg), ethambutol hydrochloride (750 mg), and streptomycin (750 mg). After 4 weeks of antimycobacterial therapy, she underwent radical debridement and decompression surgery with anterior and posterior spinal fusion. Four weeks postoperatively, streptomycin was discontinued. We continued clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol hydrochloride for 18 months, and no recurrence was detected. Although vertebral osteomyelitis due to nontuberculous mycobacteria is rare, clinicians should consider the combination of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis and vertebral osteomyelitis in cases such at these.     

A case of lung cancer with hyperthyroidism]

We here report a case of metastasis from lung cancer to the thyroid. On presentation, this patient showed painful anterior cervical swelling and right supraclavicular lymph node swelling. Laboratory data showed primary hyperthyroidism. Although subacute thyroiditis was suspected, echo-guided needle aspiration biopsy and lymph node biopsy revealed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. As a result, primary lung cancer with thyroid metastasis was diagnosed based on mediastinal enlargement on chest X ray films and normal findings in organs other than the lung and thyroid. Chemotherapy for lung cancer induced a decrease in the size of tumor and the normalization of thyroid function. However, 2 months after the normalization, cervical swelling enlarged and a lung mass in right upper lobe and skin tumor appeared. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, she died. Postmortem revealed that the right upper lung carcinoma was the primary lesion and immunohistochemical staining for surfactant protein was positive in the thyroid, skin tumor and lymph node, which revealed these carcinomas had metastasized from lung cancer. To the best of our knowledge, thyrotoxicosis induced by thyroid metastasis of lung cancer is an uncommon case.