Korean J Pathol.  1999 Jun;33(6):450-452.

Metastatic Adenocarcinoma with Mucin Emboli in the Lung: A case report

• Kim CY
• Kim KI
• Park SH
• Lee ES
• Kim HK

Abstract

Lung is known as a vulnerable organ to metastatic tumors. Metastasis occurs mainly through lymphatics but seldom via blood vessels. Adenocarcinoma with mucin emboli is very rare. Primary foci reported in the literature were breast, lung, ovary and pancreas. A lung biopsy from a 60-year-old male patient showed floating mucin associated with metastatic adenocarcinoma to the lung in the blood vessels. The tumor cells spreaded along the vascular endothelium as if they were vascular endothelial cells. The tumor cells and mucin in the vessel were strong positive for PAS staining. Elastic and immunohistochemical staining for smooth muscle actin highlighted the vascular wall in the mucin containing structure with infarction of the lung. The primary focus was identified in the pancreatic head through the abdominal ultra-sonographic and computer-tomographic examination.

Keyword

Lung; Mucin emboli; Adenocarcinoma

MeSH Terms

Actins
Adenocarcinoma*
Biopsy
Blood Vessels
Breast
Endothelial Cells
Endothelium, Vascular
Female
Head
Humans
Infarction
Lung*
Male
Middle Aged
Mucins*
Muscle, Smooth
Neoplasm Metastasis
Ovary
Pancreas
Actins
Mucins