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Vol.38 No.3 contents | Japanese/English |
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A Surgically Treated Case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Developing in a Bulla
Katsuya Watanabe, Yasushi Hayashi, Takamitsu Maehara, Takao Morohoshi and Toshio ImadaFirst Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University
A 73-year-old patient with emphysematous bulla had undergone annual X-ray examinations. The most recent chest X-ray showed a coin lesion in the right upper lung field. A CT scan revealed a well defined nodular mass in right S2 and bilateral multiple bullous lesions in S6. Comparison with former CT films revealed that two bullous lesions had been replaced by the nodular mass suggesting that the tumor had originated from the wall of the bulla and developed into the bullous lumen. Because the shadow enlarged relatively rapidly, which suggested the present of neoplasm, we performed an open lung biopsy. Firm pleural adhesion was found around the bullae. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed based on pathological examination of the frozen section and we performed a right upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection (R2a). Annual examination by chest CT scan is essential for patients with bulla, considering the possible coexistence of lung cancer. If lung cancer is suspected in such patients, an open lung biopsy should be considered.
key words: Lung cancer, Cancer in a pulmonary bulla, Squamous cell carcinoma
Received: January 27, 1998
Accepted: May 26, 1998
JJLC 38 (3): 275-278, 1998
