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Description
We present the case of an 83-year-old woman with a history of grade 1 stage IB endometrial cancer (endometrial adenocarcinoma) (figure 1) involving the lower uterine segment. She underwent robotic hysterectomy with right salpingo-oophorectomy followed by brachytherapy. A year and a half later, she presented with difficulty in breathing. A chest X-ray showed 8 mm nodular density in the right lower lobe. The above finding was confirmed with CT. Given the concern for a malignant lesion, positron emission tomography/CT scan was performed, which revealed two metabolically active lung nodules, measuring 1.2 cm in the right middle lobe and other in the right lower lobe measuring 1.2 cm (figure 2). Video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection of the right lower lobe lung nodule was performed. The frozen section and histopathology revealed papillary adenocarcinoma (figures 3 and 4); nuclear staining was positive for oestrogen receptors and negative for thyroid transcription factor-1 (figure 5). Thus, primary lung adenocarcinoma was ruled out and diagnosis of metastatic endometrial carcinoma was established. She was then started on systemic chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel. The incidence of lung metastasis in patients with endometrial cancer is 2.3–4.6%.1 Patients with stage IVB endometrial carcinoma and deep myometrial invasion are at increased risk for lung metastasis.2 The risk factor associated with lung metastasis in our patient was the deep myometrial invasion.3 Surgical resection followed by systemic chemotherapy is the standard of care. Overall survival in patients with isolated pulmonary metastasis was 54 months as opposed to 10 months in patients with synchronised pulmonary recurrence (metastasis to other organs as well).2
Learning points
Endometrial cancer in stage IB has the propensity to recur even after surgical excision and brachytherapy.
Solitary lung lesion in a patient with previously treated endometrial carcinoma should be biopsied to rule out pulmonary metastasis.
Positive nuclear staining for oestrogen receptors and negative nuclear staining for thyroid transcription factor-1 can differentiate primary lung adenocarcinoma from endometrial carcinoma.
Patients with isolated pulmonary metastasis have an overall survival of 54 months.
Footnotes
MSR and DRN contributed equally.
Contributors MPR contributed to the manuscript (case description and learning points). MSR assisted with writing case description. DRN revised the manuscript. EBM provided description on the pathology slides.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.