Clear cell tumor of the lung: Two case reports and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Clear cell tumor of the lung (CCTL) is a rare and mostly benign pulmonary tumor arising from perivascular epithelioid cells. We reported 2 cases of CCTL in a 24-year-old man with chest pain and a 59-year-old man with dyspnea. METHODS: Their chest CT images revealed a well-defined, homogeneous nodule located in the peripheral region of lung parenchyma. The solid nodule showed intense heterogenous postcontrast enhancement in the arterial phase and a homogenous appearance in the venous phase. The two patients underwent thoracotomy, and pathological examinations, including immunohistochemical studies revealed that both cases were benign clear cell tumors. RESULTS: Due to the fact that only a few cases about CCTL were reported, clinicopathological aspects and radiological characteristics of this type of tumor are not well established. CONCLUSION: CCTL is a rare and benign primary tumor and majorly occurs in middle-aged and elder people. The finding of a small vessel extending along and partially wrapping up one side of the mass in the CT-enhanced images might be a helpful feature to differentiate CCTL from other lung neoplasms.