Two Cases of Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma in Situ Resected After 9 and 12 Years’ Follow-up

抄録

  Two cases of the long-term observation of pulmonary adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) are reported. In case 1, the patient presented with an area of ground glass opacity (GGO) measuring 20 mm in diameter on chest computed tomography (CT) during a health check-up conducted at the age of 54 years. The GGO nodule was followed up with yearly CT scans and grew to 29 mm in diameter over 9 years. Thoracoscopic middle lobectomy was performed, and histopathological examination revealed AIS. In case 2, an area of GGO 7.7 mm in diameter was found when the patient was 49 years old. It was monitored via periodic CT examinations over 12 years. During this time, it grew to 19 mm in diameter. The surgical specimen exhibited AIS. In both cases, the tumor grew at a regular speed without showing any signs of invasion. The tumor doubling times for cases 1 and 2 were 1,878 and 1,071 days, respectively. However, cases in which GGO nodules grew rapidly and then developed into advanced adenocarcinoma have also been reported, so careful follow-up is mandatory for GGO lesions that are suggestive of AIS.