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Vol.43 No.4 contents | Japanese/English |
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- Case Report -
A Case of a Small Lesion of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Peripheral Lung Diagnosed by Positive Findings on Sputum Cytologic Examination
Toshiyuki Harada1,2, Satoshi Oizumi1, Koichi Yamazaki1, Shigeaki Ogura1,3, Hirotoshi Dosaka-Akita4, Masaharu Nishimura11First Department of Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Japan, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Iwamizawa Municipal General Hospital, Japan, 3Department of Respiratory Disease, Sapporo City General Hospital, Japan, 4Department of Medical Oncology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Background. We report a case of a small lesion of squamous cell carcinoma of the peripheral lung diagnosed two years after sputum cytology indicated malignancy. Case. A 77-year-old man had positive findings on sputum cytology mass screening, but no abnormality was found on investigation. Chest radiography and computed tomography performed two years later revealed a 12 mm nodule in the S3 segment of the right upper lobe. Bronchoscopy of the area that could be visualized and selective brushing cytology of each segmental bronchus were negative. The nodule was estimated to be located in the sixth bronchial branch or a more peripheral region, and percutaneous biopsy of the nodule aided by computed tomography was performed, resulted in a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. He subsequently received stereotactic radiation therapy (60 Gy in 8 fractions). During four years of follow up, sputum cytology has continued to be negative. Conclusion. Positive findings on sputum cytologic examination in the present case were due to a small lesion of squamous cell carcinoma of the peripheral lung.
key words: Sputum cytology, Occult cancer, Lung squamous cell carcinoma, Peripheral
Received: February 10, 2003
Accepted: April 14, 2003
JJLC 43 (4): 315-318, 2003
