A CASE OF MUCINOUS CYSTADENOCARCINOMA

Abstract

A 66-year-old man was pointed out a nodular shadow in the left lung at a chest X-ray film before operation for cataract and was treated with a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, with a resultant decrease in size of the tumor. One year later, a chest X-ray film revealed increase in the nodular shadow, and levels of tumor markers were noted elevated. Cytology, however, resulted in negative. Transbronchial lung biopsy and CT-guided transcutaneous needle lung biopsy were performed and mucous-producing adenocarcinoma was suspected. A left lower lobectomy of lung was performed. It was a grossly white jelly-like tumor and histologically mucious cystadenocarcinoma.
Although mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the lung is of low grade malignancy and belongs to a rare entity, we must consider the disease in the differential diagnose, if the clinical course appears to be unexpected in cases once diagnosed to be pulmonary tuberculosis of lung suppuration. In case of mucious cystadenocarcinoma, transbronchial lung biopsy alone often presents difficulty in making the diagnosis, whereas transcutaneous lung biopsy and/or needle aspiration biopsy cytology are of value, and recommended to performed activity.