Surgical treatment of intraperitoneal metastases from lung cancer: two case reports and a review of the literature

J Med Case Rep. 2019 Aug 21;13(1):262. doi: 10.1186/s13256-019-2178-5.

Abstract

Background: Peritoneal metastases are often reported in several abdominal tumors. Peritoneal diffusion from extra-abdominal tumors is thought to be rare. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world with early metastases and it is associated with poor prognosis in advanced stages. Peritoneal metastases from lung cancer are uncommon and the real mechanism of its diffusion to the peritoneum is unknown. However, its clinical behavior is similar to any other peritoneal metastasis from abdominal tumors.

Case presentation: We present two Caucasian patients (a 44-year-old man and a 59-year-old man) with bowel obstruction from peritoneal metastases from non-small cell lung cancer who successfully underwent emergency cytoreductive surgery and had a good prognosis and survival.

Conclusions: In our patients with isolated peritoneal metastases from lung cancer, cytoreduction showed good prognosis with acceptable morbidity. This treatment option might be considered in highly selected cases to improve survival. Strict follow-up is mandatory to allow early diagnosis of peritoneal diffusion.

Keywords: Cytoreductive surgery; Lung cancer; Peritoneal metastases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Obstruction / etiology
  • Intestinal Obstruction / surgery*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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