Metachronous multiple pulmonary nodules 9 years after esophagectomy: a case report

A 79-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further examination. He had undergone radical esophagectomy with right thoracotomy 9 years ago. Four cycles of chemotherapy (CDDP +5-FU) were also performed for him. Eight years after esophagectomy, two nodules were identified in the upper lobe of the right lung on chest computed tomography (CT). Owing to the possibility of new primary lung cancer, partial resection was performed. Histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma. One year and two months later, follow-up chest CT scan revealed a nodule shadow of 1.5 cm in the left apex and a nodule shadow of 0.9 cm below the S9 pleura. Hence, partial left lung resection was performed. Five months after left lung resection, a metastatic liver tumor was found on abdominal CT and left lobectomy of the liver was performed. One year after hepatectomy, the patient died due to peritoneal dissemination.