Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis without concurrent liver metastasis from colon cancer detected using 18F-FDG PET/CT: A case report.

RATIONALE

The infiltration of tumor cells to pulmonary lymphatic system, as known as pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis (PLC), is a rare presentation of pulmonary metastases.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We reported a case of a 66-year-old man after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for colon cancer. Two months after these therapies, the patient complained of nonproductive cough for 1 week.

DIAGNOSES

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scanning revealed increased FDG uptake along the thickened bronchovascular bundles, in bilaterally scattered ground-glass opacities and in mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The transbronchial biopsy and pathological study confirmed the diagnosis of PLC.

INTERVENTIONS

Antineoplastic treatment (cetuximab) were administered after the patient was diagnosed with PLC.

OUTCOMES

The patient died of respiratory failure within 3 months after the onset of his symptom.

LESSONS

18F-FDG PET/CT play an important role in identifying PLC, in selecting possible biopsy sites, and in accessing the extent of metastatic disease.