Pulmonary adenocarcinoma complicated with pulmonary infarction presented as intrapulmonary metastases: a report of a case.

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma complicated with a pulmonary infarction presenting as an intrapulmonary metastasis is relatively rare. We present a case of pulmonary infarction manifesting as intrapulmonary metastases of lung cancer. A previously healthy 59-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of abnormal shadows in the right lower lung field. Laboratory tests showed no abnormalities except for a slight elevation of carcinoembryonic antigens (CEAs). Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a hilar mass lesion with parenchymal lesions in the periphery of the right lower lobe, highly suspected to be a pulmonary adenocarcinoma with intrapulmonary metastases. A diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma was confirmed by a transbronchial brushing examination. A right middle and lower bilobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection was due to hilar lymphadenopathy and a lower lobe invasion of the main tumor. Histopathological findings of the resected specimens revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung with N1 (number 11i and 12 l) disease and multiple pulmonary infarctions with coagulation necrosis and recanalization. Our case suggests that pulmonary infarction associated with lung cancer should be considered as one important cause of peripheral pulmonary nodules.