Presentation
Chest pain and chronic cough. Recent hemoptysis.
Patient Data
A large, well-defined mass projects over the left lung hilum and the hilar structures can still be visualized. The lateral projection confirms that the mass is located posterior to the left lung hilum.
Elevation of the left hemidiaphragm due to gaseous distention of the splenic flexure of the colon is evident.
An 80 × 62 × 65 mm well-defined lobulated soft tissue density juxta hilar mass is noted in the left lower lobe of the lung and touching the posterior aspects of the left hilar structures. In addition, some enlarged lymph nodes are seen at the left lung hilum.
A few nodules less than 8 mm are seen around the mentioned mass in the same lobe.
Anterior wedge compression is evident in the L1 vertebral body.
In imaged parts of the upper abdomen, the right kidney is markedly small and atrophic. The left kidney shows compensatory hypertrophy and contains a few stones less than 10 mm.
Case Discussion
The patient underwent a bronchoscopy and tissue exam, and histopathology evaluation confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.
Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the non-small cell carcinomas of the lung, second only to adenocarcinoma of the lung as the most common type of lung cancer. Central tumors causing bronchial invasion and obstruction often lead to distal collapse and potential infection. Symptoms may include chronic cough and hemoptysis. Peripheral tumors are usually detected when they are larger and invade the chest wall. Metastasis could be the initial indication of cancer.