Most of pulmonary metastasis present as a well-defined solid and round nodule.
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This is the rare case of a pulmonary metastasis presenting as a ground glass opacity-like lesion with a thin-walled cavity of tongue cancer.
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The positron emission tomography/computed tomography examination was useful to show hilar lymph node metastasis.
Abstract
Introduction
Most of pulmonary metastases present as well-defined solid and round nodules. Here we report a case of a pulmonary metastasis presenting as a ground glass opacity (GGO)-like lesion with a thin-walled cavity and lymph node metastasis of tongue cancer.
Case presentaion
A 22-year-old man was referred to our department for surgical diagnosis and treatment for a GGO-like pulmonary nodule with a thin-walled cavity in the right lower lobe. He had a history of surgical resection for tongue cancer. The size of the GGO-like lesion with a thin-walled cavity in the center gradually increased. A right lower lobectomy and hilar lymphadenectomy were performed. Postoperative pathology revealed the lesion as pulmonary metastasis and hilar lymph node metastasis of tongue cancer.
Discussion
Our case report of pulmonary metastasis of tongue cancer is rare from the viewpoint of pulmonary GGO-like lesions with a following thin-walled cavity and hilar lymph node metastasis. The positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examination was useful to show right hilar lymph node metastasis.
Conclusion
It is important to make a differential diagnosis of from the pulmonary nodule in case of a GGO-like lesion with a thin-walled cavity.
