Three Cases of Small Bowel Metastases From Primary Lung Cancers Diagnosed as Acute Abdomen

Abstract

Background. Small bowel metastases from lung cancer are rare, and few operated cases have been described. We report 3 cases of small bowel metastasis from primary lung cancers followed by acute abdomen. Cases. Case 1 was a 64-year-old man who had undergone sleeve resection of the right upper lobe of the lung for large cell carcinoma of the lung. Two months later, he reported abdominal pain and ileus was suspected. Partial resection of the small bowel was performed. Pathological examination revealed lung cancer metastases. Case 2 was a 54-year-old man diagnosed with left lung cancer and metastases to the right tonsil. Chemoradiotherapywas performed. During the course of treatment, the patient complained of melena. Bleeding from the small bowel was suspected. Partial resection of the small bowel was performed. Pathological examination revealed metastases of large cell carcinoma. Case 3 was a 71-year-old man. Abdominal distension was noted during the course of whole body examinations for suspected lung cancer. Partial resection of the small bowel was performed based on a diagnosis of ileus. Pathological examination revealed metastases of undifferentiated lung carcinoma. Conclusion. Small bowel metastasesfrom lung cancer are rare and have poor prognoses. However, if a patient with lung cancer complains of abdominal symptoms and inflammatory disease can' t be denied, a laparotomy should be considered. A helical CT may be useful in making that decision.