Mediastinal small-cell lung carcinoma after right lung transplant for pulmonary interstitial fibrosis

Tumori. 2012 Mar-Apr;98(2):39e-42e. doi: 10.1700/1088.11946.

Abstract

Pulmonary carcinoma is uncommon after lung transplant, but doubtlessly affects recipient survival independently of other complications. Small cell lung cancer is much rarer after transplant than non-small cell lung cancer. We report a case of mediastinal small cell lung carcinoma confirmed by endobronchial ultrasound biopsy that occurred 18 months after a single lung transplant for interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in a 58-year-old male nonsmoker. The patient died shortly after of distant metastasis. Our report confirms the usefulness of tumor markers and positron-emission tomography-computed tomography as routine tests for earlier detection of malignant disease after lung transplant.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / etiology
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / surgery*
  • Lung Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / etiology
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed