Therapeutic Effect of Tranilast on Lung Tumors Suspected of Being Staple Line Granulomas: Report of Two Cases.

INTRODUCTION

A staple line granuloma (SG) in the lung, which arises adjacent to a staple line after lung surgery, is often difficult to differentiate from a stump recurrence. We report two cases of lung tumors that were suspected of being SGs, and the tumors resolved after the use of oral tranilast.

CASE PRESENTATION

Case 1 is a 71-year-old woman who underwent a right S8 segmentectomy for lung adenocarcinoma (pT1miN0M0, stage IA1). A follow-up chest computed tomography (CT) scan, which was performed 9 months after surgery, revealed a mass adjacent to the staple line. The lesion disappeared by the 3rd month after administration of tranilast with no recurrence. Case 2 is a 70-year-old woman who underwent wedge resection for metastatic lung cancer originating from renal cancer. A follow-up chest CT scan, which we obtained 8 months after surgery, revealed a nodule adjacent to the staple line. The lesion disappeared by the 4th month after administration of tranilast with no recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of tranilast can be a safe and effective diagnostic treatment for SG, when the treatment is performed with strict imaging follow-up and histologic biopsy in mind.