Endobronchial Small-cell Lung Cancer with Intraluminal Growth Pattern Showing “Finger-in-glove” Appearance

Invasion of the endobronchial mucosa by cancer cells is frequently seen in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but an intraluminal polypoid growth pattern is extremely rare. We herein describe the case of a 69-year-old woman with limited-stage SCLC who had a pedunculated mass in the orifice of the right upper bronchus. Thin-section CT of the lung showed an endobronchial protruding mass accompanied by tubular and branching opacities (the so-called finger-in-glove sign) in the right upper lobe bronchus, which were enhanced by contrast media. She responded well to chemotherapy with concurrent radiation therapy. Although very rare, SCLC patients can have intraluminal polypoid growth, as was observed in this case.