PRIMARY LUNG CANCER IN A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY

A CASE REPORT AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

This paper presents a 15-year-old boy who underwent lobectomy due to primary lung cancer. Cases of childhood primary lung cancer reported hitherto in Japan are reviewed. Chest X-ray examination of this patient revealed an almost disc-shaped mass approximately 4cm in diameter in S6. Under the diagnosis of lung cancer by other tests, the middle and lower right lobes were resected. Histopathologic findings disclosed highly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Childhood primary lung cancer is rare-only 19 cases have been reported so in far Japan. Lobectomy was performed in only 8 of them. Childhood lung cancers are characterized by undifferentiated adenocarcinoma in most cases and by poor prognosis due to rapid development. Four of the 8 cases lobectomized survived longer then 5 years. This may suggest that early resection of the lesion is indicated.