A Case of Lung Metastasis from Colon Cancer Presenting as a Solitary Cystic Lesion

Abstract

Background. Cavitation in metastatic lung tumors is rare, compared with primary lung cancer. It is also sometimes difficult to differentiate from benign lung cyst by chest CT. We report a case of lung metastasis from colon cancer presenting as a solitary cystic lesion. Case. A 50-year-old man underwent right hemicolectomy for cecal cancer in April 2003. He was followed up by the department of gastroenterological surgery in our hospital after adjuvant chemotherapy. In January 2006 chest CT showed a 1.5-cm solitary cystic lesion with a slightly thickened wall in the left upper lung. Retrospective evaluation of chest CT revealed a minute cystic lesion at the same site in the left upper lung in February 2005. Partial pulmonary resection for biopsy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed in February 2006 because of the growing cystic lesion on chest CT. Pathological findings showed a metastatic lung tumor from cecal cancer. Conclusion. Close follow up is recommended for atypical forms of solitary lung cysts and the possibility of metastatic lung tumor should be kept in mind.