An Atypical Presentation of Small Bowel Metastasis From a Previously Undiagnosed Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma

Authors

Andrew C. Berry, Kansas City UniversityFollow
Rachel E. Herdes, Kansas City University
Marcelo F. Larsen, University of Miami
Andres J. Yarur, University of Miami
James S. Scolapio, University of Florida
Brijesh B. Patel, University of South Florida
Danny J. Avalos, University of Miami
Joshua D. Lenchus, University of Miami
Warren L. Reuther 3rd, West Palm Hospital

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Medical Cases

Abstract

Lung adenocarcinoma commonly metastasizes to the liver, brain, bones and adrenal glands, with metastasis to the small bowel in only 0.5-2% of cases. Not only did our patient have metastases to the small bowel, but the patient presented solely with gastrointestinal symptoms and no evidence of lung disease clinically or on imaging. Immunohistochemical analysis helped diagnose a primary lung adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the small bowel. There are few reported cases of small bowel metastases leading to the diagnosis of a primary lung cancer, let alone, in living patients. Though uncommon, physicians should not dismiss the possibility of vague gastrointestinal symptoms as a manifestation of metastases from a primary lung cancer.

DOI

10.14740/jmc1874w

Publication Date

2014

Keywords

Small intestine, Pathology, Histopathology, Lung cancer

ISSN

1923-4163

Recommended Citation

Berry AC, Herdes RE, Larsen MF, Yarur AJ, Scolapio JS, Patel BB, Avalos DJ, Lenchus JD, Reuther WL. An Atypical Presentation of Small Bowel Metastasis From a Previously Undiagnosed Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma. Journal of Medical Cases. 2014; 5(9). doi: 10.14740/jmc1874w.