Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the lung: The wolf in sheep’s clothing

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the lung is a rare tumour with good prognosis, predominantly composed of clear cells. A young lady presented with a large, cystic lesion in the right lower lobe suggestive of hydatid cyst. In the hospital she developed acute toxemia, and was therefore taken for emergency thoracotomy and right lower lobectomy. Post operatively she expired, due to sepsis. Histopathology revealed clear cell adenocarcinoma of the lung, and autopsy demonstrated metastasis in the spleen. Herein we have reported an unusually aggressive presentation of this tumour, in a young lady in whom it masqueraded as a benign cystic lesion.