Tuberc Respir Dis.  2007 Jul;63(1):83-87. 10.4046/trd.2007.63.1.83.

A Case of Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia Associated with Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jinhwalee@ewha.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Radiology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pathology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is strongly associated with lung cancer compared with the general population. However, other types of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) are rarely associated with lung cancer. We describe a case of a primary lung cancer associated with IIP other than IPF, which was considered to be nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and NSIP disappeared spontaneously after treating the primary lung cancer.

Keyword

Interstitial lung diseases; Lung cancer; Adenocarcinoma

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma*
Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Lung Diseases, Interstitial*
Lung Neoplasms
Lung*

Figure

  • Figure 1 A 3-cm sized mass in the left lower lobe.

  • Figure 2 (A) A 3-cm enhancing mass showing air bronchogram and speculated margin with pleural tag is noted in the superior segment of the left lower lobe. (B) Ill-defined ground-glass opacity is noted in both lower lobes, predominantly in peripheral and basal lungs.

  • Figure 3 The tumor lesion shows well-to-moderately differentiated neoplastic cells forming acini and tubules composed of cuboid cells, suggesting adenocarcinoma. (H&E stain, ×100)

  • Figure 4 (A) Non-neoplastic lung parenchyma shows multifocal and diffuse loose interstitial fibrosis with mononuclear infiltration of alveolar walls. The alveolar wall is relatively uniformly thickened. However, the architecture of the lung parenchyma is relatively preserved. (B) Several multinucleated giant cells of undetermined significance, focal collection of desquamated alveolar macrophages with cholesterol clefts are noted. (H&E stain, ×100, A and B)

  • Figure 5 There is left lower lobectomy state, and previous ground-glass opacity on figure 2B is not noted in the right lower lobe.


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