Clear cell tumor of the lung could be aggressive: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Clear cell tumors of the lung (CCTLs) are rare and mostly benign pulmonary neoplasms arising from perivascular epithelioid cells. Only approximately 100 cases have been reported, and half of them were in China. Limited details about CCTLs often cause diagnostic or therapeutic problems. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a case of a 28-year-old woman with multiple gradually replicating and enlarging nodules in the left lower lobe. The patient underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy and was diagnosed with CCTL. A left lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection were performed. The gradual changes in size (1.4 cm to 2.8 cm) and quantity (10 to 49) of the CCTLs in this case were the biggest differences from previously reported cases. CONCLUSIONS: CCTLs are very uncommon and mostly benign PEComatous tumors with no specific morphologic features. We present a case of CCTL with multiplicity and rapid growth, which may indicate its aggressive nature. The accumulation of similar cases will help clarify the exact nature and improve our understanding of the disease.