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Case Reports
. 2010 Dec 29:2010:bcr0720103147.
doi: 10.1136/bcr.07.2010.3147.

Spontaneous regression in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Adam Gladwish  1 , Katy Clarke, Andrea Bezjak
Affiliations
Case Reports

Spontaneous regression in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Adam Gladwish et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Locally advanced lung cancer, if untreated, typically progresses although the rapidity of progression may vary. The authors report the case of an 84-year-old woman who presented with radiologically progressive, biopsy proven stage IIIB (T2N3) squamous cell carcinoma in the left lower lobe of the lung. Her disease was too advanced for curative treatment and in view of the lack of symptoms to palliate, she received no anticancer treatment. In follow-up, her tumour was noted to spontaneously regress in size on serial chest x-rays. Eight months after biopsy, restaging CT showed complete resolution of the enlarged biopsy proven mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes and significant regression of the primary tumour. She remains clinically well.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Tissue obtained via ultrasound-guided biopsy in February 2009 showing squamous cell carcinoma in the left lower lobe.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography CT scan from March 2009, showing the area of maximal standard uptake value within the left lower lobe.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chest x-ray from April 2009.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Chest x-ray from June 2009.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Chest x-ray from September 2009.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Chest x-ray from March 2010.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Staging CT scan from March 2009.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Image from CT scan taken in December 2009 showing reduction in the left lower lobe mass.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Mediastinal window of CT scan from March 2009 showing nodal disease.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Mediastinal window of CT scan from December 2009 showing reduction in mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Publication types