Sudden improvement of respiratory failure in a woman with carcinoma of the colon

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2002 Feb;57(1):35-8.

Abstract

We present a case of bronchial and endotracheal metastases completely blocking the left main bronchus and partially occluding the middle lobe bronchus contributing to severe respiratory failure. The patient's lack of consent to laser resection of the mass led to the use of chemotherapy; after the first cycle of treatment a neoplastic mass about 3 cm long was spontaneously expelled with a cough. The expulsion of the metastasis caused rapid improvement of the dyspnea and gas exchange; however, the continuation of the chemotherapy did not bring any further benefit to the patient, who died 115 days after diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / complications
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / secondary*
  • Aged
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / complications
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Fluorouracil