Abstract
A 73 year-old man complained of bloody sputum and pain in the right shoulder. On chest X-ray film, abnormal density was observed in the right upper lung field.
At operation, hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes were free from metastasis but parietal pleura was extensively invaded. The parietal pleura and right upper and middle lobes were resected.
There was no tumor in the right upper lobe but peribronchial outgrowth was observed along the right apical branch of the bronchus.
Four months later from onset of symptoms, he died from SVC syndrome. On autopsy, metastasis to the pericardium, opposite lung, pancreas, bilateral adrenal gland, small intestine and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were found.
Histological examination of the specimens obtained at operation and autopsy revealed giant cell carcinoma which explained the extreamely rapid fatal course.
