Chest wall implantation of carcinoma after fine needle aspiration biopsy

Abstract

Implantation of malignant cells along the needle aspiration tract in patients with lung cancer is a rare but potential complication following percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy. Dissemination of cancer cells by aspiration biopsy can change resectable, potentially curable lung cancer to unresectable cancer. We report a 55 year male patient who underwent completion pneumonectomy due to squamous cell carcinoma and one cycle of chemotherapy. He developed outgrowing chest wall tumor at the site of needle aspiration biopsy performed prior to completion pneumonectomy and was pathologically diagnosed as metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. The lesion was successfully treated by radical full-thickness resection of the chest wall and reconstruction with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous island flap.