Endobronchial metastasis from slow-growing lung cancer: A rare case report and review of the literature

Summary 

The case of a 36-year-old man with slow-growing lung adenosquamous cell carcinoma and an endobronchial metastasis is reported. Several nodules had been found on a chest X-ray taken 1 year earlier. The same nodules, with no signs of significant progression, were observed during the present admission. A chest computed tomography (CT) image revealed a polypoid lesion in the right intermediate bronchus. Microscopic examination of the polypoid tumor suggested some malignant suspected neoplasm. Therefore, a right intermediate bronchus and right middle and lower lobe lung resection were performed. Histology of the lung nodules revealed an adenosquamous cell carcinoma that closely resembled the endobronchial polypoid tumor. We concluded that the endobronchial tumor was a metastasis of slow-growing lung adenosquamous cell carcinoma. The literature was also reviewed for Japanese patients with endobronchial metastasis who had been treated between 1984 and 2007. Endobronchial metastases originated from 17 different diagnoses of primary malignancies in 90 patients.

Keywords: Endobronchial tumor, Endotracheal metastasis, Pulmonary metastasis, Lung cancer, Thoracic surgery

Abbreviations: CXR, chest X-ray, CT, computed tomography