Resolution of pulmonary lymphangitic carcinoma of the breast

Pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of case reports, 1970-2018

Pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis (PLC) is a life-threating complication in patients suffering from malignancies. Misleading and nonspecific symptoms often result in a delayed diagnosis. This review was aimed at evaluating epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and survival of patients with PLC reported in the literature. According to our knowledge, this study is the first such extensive analysis of PLC. We searched for the literature in the PubMed database for articles published from 1970 to 2018 using keywords: lung, pulmonary, lymphangitic, carcinoma, carcinomatosis. Pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis rarely occurs, thus all data were extracted from case reports and case series consisted of a method for identifying individual-level patient data. In the final analysis, 108 articles (139 individual patient cases) were included. The mean age of PLC occurrence is 49.21 years. There is no difference in the prevalence between men and women. The most common underlying primary tumors coexisting with PLC are breast (17.3%), lung (10.8%), and gastric cancers (10.8%). Dyspnea and dry cough were the most common symptoms occurring in 59.0% and 33.8% of patients, respectively. In half the patients, PLC developed in fewer than ten months after first diagnosis of cancer. Pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis diagnosis is associated with a poor prognosis: approximately half of patients die within two months of their first respiratory symptoms and three weeks from admission to hospital. Regarding survival time, we observed better results achieved in patients described between 2000 and 2018 compared to 1970 through 1999. In the presence of progressive dyspnea, cough, and lesions comparable to interstitial lung disease, diagnosis of PLC should be considered. Pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis can be the first manifestation of primary occult neoplasm and may occur at any age. Adenocarcinoma, especially primary lung, breast, and gastric cancers is the most common cancer coexisting with PLC.

Long-term suppression of lymphangitic lung metastasis from breast cancer using biweekly docetaxel: a case report

A 45-year-old woman underwent a modified radical mastectomy for right breast cancer in July 1996. As lymph node metastases were quite advanced, chemotherapy was started with anthracyclines. Four years after surgery, cough and dyspnea appeared. Chest radiograph and CT showed reticular shadows bilaterally and slight pleural effusion, suggesting lymphangitic lung metastasis of breast cancer. Biweekly intravenous docetaxel (TXT,45 mg/m2) was initiated. Four courses of TXT ameliorated her complaints and radiographic findings. A total of 30 continuous courses of TXT suppressed disease exacerbation for 18 months until new lesions manifested in January 2002. The main side effects were grade 2 leukopenia and alopecia. This case report describes a patient with long-term suppression of lymphangitic lung metastasis of breast cancer using biweekly TXT without severe side effects or worsening quality of life.

Adenocarcinoma of the lung presenting as a diffuse interstitial process in a 25-year-old man

Adenocarcinoma of the lung is rare in young adults, particularly in persons below the age of 30. Younger patients tend to present with advanced stages of carcinoma, and often have a rapidly deteriorating course. We describe a 25-year-old male who presented with diffuse interstitial lung disease which was found at autopsy to be lymphangitic carcinomatosis of probable pulmonary origin.

Pulmonary lymphangitic metastasis from breast cancer. Lymphocytic alveolitis is associated with favorable prognosis

BACKGROUND

More than 20 percent of patients with breast cancer have pulmonary lymphangitic spread at death. Previous reports have indicated that some patients may respond to aggressive chemotherapy that includes corticosteroids.

METHODS

Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was used to assess pulmonary infiltrates in 14 patients with infiltrating ductal breast cancer. All patients had received prior cytotoxic or hormonal therapy. Following a diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis by BAL or biopsy specimen, all patients received prednisone and chemotherapy.

RESULTS

BAL confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic tumor in 10 of 14 patients. The conditions of the remaining patients were diagnosed by one or more other bronchoscopy specimens. Patients were divided into two groups based on BAL lymphocyte percentage (10 percent is the upper limit of normal in our laboratory). Seven patients had > 10 percent lymphocytes (high lymphs: 26 +/- 11.6 percent [mean +/- SD]) compared with seven patients with normal lymphocyte percentage (low lymphs: 4 +/- 1.9 percent, p < 0.01). Six of seven patients with low lymphs died within three months of BAL compared with one in seven patients with high lymphs (p < 0.01). Within six months, all patients with low lymphs were dead whereas five of seven patients with high lymphs were alive, (p < 0.01). Comparing the two groups, there was no significant difference in percentage of BAL neutrophils, patient age, duration of disease prior to diagnosis, or arterial-alveolar oxygen gradient.

CONCLUSION

In breast cancer patients with pulmonary lymphangitic metastasis, a lymphocytic alveolitis is associated with a better overall prognosis.

Lymphangitic Carcinomas of the Lung as Presentation of Prostatic Cancer. A Case Report

Lymphangitic carcinomatosis of the lung Is a late and often fatal manifestation of cancer. We describe a case of a biopsy-proved pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis in an asymptomatic 61-year-old man. The pulmonary picture proved to be the initial sign of a prostatic cancer. Therapy with LH-RH analogues and antiandrogens achieved a complete clearance of lung involvement.