Abstract
Background. As HRCT (high resolution computed tomography) has become increased commonly used, it has become apparent that GGA (ground-glass attenuation) is present in a variety of lung diseases. We report a case of unilateral lung edema represented as GGA in an opposite lung field after treatment of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Case. A 70-year-old man with uncontrolled diabetes was admitted because of an abnormal shadow discovered during a routine chest X-ray in June 2003. In 1994, he underwent a left lower lobectomy and post-operative mediastinal radiation for pulmonary adenocarcinoma (p-Stage IIIA). Chest CT on admission demonstrated widespread GGA in the right hilar lesion of the middle and lower lobes. Detailed examinations including TBLB, bacterial culture and a serological test could not confirm bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, interstitial pneumonia, viral pneumonia or alveolar proteinosis. The patient increased his weight by 5 kg and ultrasound examination showed dilatation of the inferior vena cava and a congestive liver. The GGA disappeared one month after the administration of furosemide. Conclusion. The clinical course, HRCT and pathological findings suggested that lung edema caused by volume overload affected as localized unilateral GGA in the chest CT. The decrease in pulmonary vessel beds due to surgical resection, obstruction of lymphatic circulation after mediastinal radiation, and increased permeability of microvessels associated with diabetes are supposed to be linked to lung edema. Localized lung edema should be considered as a possible cause of GGA after lung cancer treatment.
