Unusual case of cavitary lung metastasis of esophageal cancer: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Cavitary lung metastases are rare. We experienced lung metastasis of esophageal cancer with a cavity, which is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old female diagnosed with thoracic esophageal cancer underwent radical esophagectomy. Pathological diagnosis was T3N0M0-pStageII. Cavitary lesion appeared in the lower lobe of the right lung 12 months after surgery. We suspected an inflammatory change and followed up strictly. On Computed tomography (CT) image 18 months after surgery, the cavitary lesion slightly increased in size, showing wall thickening and fluid inside. Fluid collection disappeared after antibiotic treatment. The patient was followed for 4 weeks without antibiotics and fluid collection reappeared. Cavitary lesion resection for the purpose of diagnosis was planned because malignancy could not be excluded, although the readministration of antibiotics was also considered. Thoracoscopic partial resection of the right lower lobe of the lung was performed. Histopathological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma which was similar in morphology to esophageal cancer. The final diagnosis was lung metastasis of esophageal cancer. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Metastatic lung cancer with a cavity is rare, accounting for approximately 4% of all cases. Moreover, Lung metastasis of esophageal cancer with a cavity is extremely rare. CONCLUSIONS: The specimen collection, including total biopsy, should be aggressively performed when diagnosing cavitary lung disease in patients with a history of neoplastic disease.