Giant cell carcinoma of the lung presenting as an isolated cyst containing air: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinomas (PSCs) are rare tumors within the sarcomatoid carcinoma group. Giant cell carcinoma of the lung (GCCL) is a rare type of PSCs that consists entirely of highly pleomorphic tumor giant cells; the prognosis is poor. PATIENT CONCERNS: A patient presented with a single cyst and was diagnosed with GCCL. The patient was a 59-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital with a cough. A chest computerized tomography (CT) scan showed a single, thin-walled cyst containing air in the left upper lobe of the lung. Bronchoscopy revealed chronic bronchitis. The initial diagnosis was pulmonary infection and the patient was treated with antibiotics. The cyst wall increased in thickness, and the cyst eventually formed a cavity. DIAGNOSIS: Surgery was performed, and a diagnosis of GCCL was established. The stage was pT(1b)N(1)M(0) (equal to stage IIB). INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin and docetaxel. After 9 months, the patient occurred mediastinal lymph node metastasis, and received radiotherapy (60Gy/30F). OUTCOMES: His prognosis was good without progression (complete response) based on serial CT scans over 9 months of follow-up evaluations, then the patient occurred mediastinal lymph node metastasis. The patient lived during 30 months of follow-up, after which he was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: A solitary pulmonary parenchymal cystic lesion usually suggests an infectious disease or congenital abnormality; however, a cystic lesion is occasionally encountered in GCCL.