Progression after spontaneous regression in lung large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: Report of a curative resection

We present the first reported case of lung large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) with spontaneous regression followed by progression. An 85-year-old woman presented with a 2.8-cm nodule in the right upper lung lobe on chest computed tomography. After four months, the tumor decreased to 1.8 cm and remained unchanged in size for the next three months, but it grew to 8.6 cm and invaded the mediastinal fat tissue after approximately one year. Ultrasound echo-guided percutaneous biopsy revealed the tumor to be LCNEC. The patient underwent a right upper lobectomy with lymph node dissection. She had a good postoperative course with no complications. Physicians and surgeons should be aware that radiographic regression of a pulmonary nodule does not necessarily exclude the possibility of lung cancer.