Lung cancer associated to cystic airspaces: surveillance for early diagnosis

Airspace-associated lung cancer is rare. Some specialists do not associate this morphology with lung cancer, thus leading to a delay in diagnosis. We present the case of a 64-year-old woman who smoked and had COPD. A first CT scan revealed a 4 cm cystic lesion in the lower left lobe. In another follow-up CT scan performed 3 years later, a 3 cm exophytic nodule (Mascalchi type I) was observed (Fig. 1). A lower left lobectomy was performed. The pathology report was consistent with staged large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (Ib. pT2aN0Mx) (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Conflict of interest

None.