Extrahepatic biliary obstruction caused by small-cell lung cancer

Case report: Acute pancreatitis in lung adenocarcinoma with small cell transformation after multiple line targeted therapy

In lung cancer, metastasis to the liver, bones, brain, and adrenal glands is more commonly observed, whereas pancreatic metastasis from lung cancer is relatively rare. We present a case of a patient with an 8-year history of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) who was admitted to our institution exhibiting symptoms consistent with acute pancreatitis. Subsequent histopathological examination through puncture confirmed the occurrence of pancreatic metastasis originating from small cell lung cancer (SCLC). During a multidisciplinary team discussion, we reached a consensus in diagnosing the patient with post-transformation small cell carcinoma alongside moderately severe pancreatitis, which was determined to be a consequence of pancreatic metastasis. The patient received a regimen of etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy. This unique clinical case highlights the importance of further investigating the factors contributing to pancreatic metastasis in patients with lung cancer, as the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Understanding these exceptional metastatic events is vital in devising effective therapeutic strategies and improving patient prognosis. Our findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance and comprehensive management of lung cancer patients, particularly those with resistant forms of the disease, to promptly identify and address the progression of metastatic events to uncommon sites such as the pancreas.

Malignant biliary obstruction due to metastatic non-hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer

Malignant biliary obstruction generally results from primary malignancies of the pancreatic head, bile duct, gallbladder, liver, and ampulla of Vater. Metastatic lesions from other primaries to these organs or nearby lymph nodes are rarer causes of biliary obstruction. The most common primaries include renal cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, and melanoma. They may be difficult to differentiate from primary hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer based on imaging studies, or even on biopsy. There is also no consensus on the optimal method of treatment, including the feasibility and effectiveness of endoscopic intervention or surgery. A thorough review of the literature on pancreato-biliary metastases and malignant biliary obstruction due to metastatic non-hepato-pancreato-biliary cancer is presented. The diagnostic modality and clinical characteristics may differ significantly depending on the type of primary cancer. Different primaries also cause malignant biliary obstruction in different ways, including direct invasion, pancreatic or biliary metastasis, hilar lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, and peritoneal carcinomatosis. Metastasectomy may hold promise for some types of pancreato-biliary metastases. This review aims to elucidate the current knowledge in this area, which has received sparse attention in the past. The aging population, advances in diagnostic imaging, and improved treatment options may lead to an increase in these rare occurrences going forward.

The role of endoscopic ultrasound in a case of lung cancer with jaundice

Lung cancer is one of the major causes of death in the world. Small cell carcinoma is the most aggressive type and can spread rapidly. The association of a small cell carcinoma with hepatic hilar metastasis and biliary obstruction is rare. Endoscopic ultrasound allows the aspiration of a cytology sample from adenopathies for diagnostic purpose. We present the case of a patient with lung cancer, with lymph node metastasis to the hepatic hilum and extrinsic biliary tree compression. Endoscopic ultrasound allowed the definitive diagnosis of hepatic hilar metastasis of a lung small cell carcinoma. To the author's knowledge it was the first time that endoscopic ultrasound was used for the diagnosis of hepatic hilar lymph node metastasis of lung cancer.

Obstructive jaundice caused by intraductal metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma

Obstructive jaundice caused by metastases to the porta hepatis is often observed in patients with various advanced cancers; however, metastasis of lung cancer to the common bile duct with subsequent development of jaundice is rare. A 75-year-old female with lung adenocarcinoma harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (15-bp in-frame deletion in exon 19 and T790M in exon 20) developed obstructive jaundice during therapy. Obstruction of the common bile duct caused by an intraductal tumor was identified by computed tomography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic ultrasonography. Although primary cholangiocarcinoma was highly suspected according to the imaging findings, immunohistochemical evaluation of the intraductal tumor demonstrated thyroid transcription factor-1 positive adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, peptide nucleic acid-locked nucleic acid polymerase chain reaction clamp analysis showed that the tumor contained the same EGFR mutation as that in the primary lung cancer. Thus, we confirmed intraductal metastasis from a lung adenocarcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the second report of obstructive jaundice caused by intraductal metastasis of lung cancer.

Pancreatic involvement in small cell lung cancer

Background

Few data are available concerning incidence, clinical picture, and prognosis for pancreatic metastases of small cell lung carcinoma. In this paper we review the related literature available in English language.

Conclusions

Although pancreatic metastases are generally asymptomatic, they can rarely produce clinical symptoms or functional abnormalities. The widespread use of multi-detector computerised tomography (CT) in contemporary medical practice has led to an increased detection of pancreatic metastases in oncology patients. Tissue diagnosis is imperative because radiological techniques alone are incapable of differentiating them from primary pancreatic tumours. Pancreatic metastases occur in the relative end stage of small cell lung cancer. The main complications of these lesions, although rare, are acute pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice. Early chemotherapy can provide a survival benefit even in patients with mild acute pancreatitis or extrahepatic biliary obstruction.

Squamous cell carcinoma of pancreas: an unusual site of relapse from early-stage lung cancer: 12-month postsurgery

A 57-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and backache, weight loss of 10 kg and irregular bowel movements. He was previously diagnosed with Stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of lung and had undergone lobectomy 12 months previously. Investigations including imaging revealed a cystic mass in the body and tail of the pancreas which was biopsied and it was confirmed to be a recurrence of the squamous lung cancer involving the pancreas. He was treated with systemic chemotherapy and has shown a partial response on repeat imaging. This case illustrates a rare and unusual site of relapse in lung cancer after adjuvant therapy and a key message for follow-up surveillance for these patients.

Gastroesphageal variceal hemorrhage induced by metastatic liver tumor of lung cancer

Gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage is a lethal complication of portal hypertension. Liver cirrhosis is often the principal cause of the portal hypertensive state. Malignant tumors coexist with portal hypertension in some cases. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is likely to become metastatic. Liver is a frequent site of cancer metastasis, but diffuse hepatic sinusoidal metastasis is uncommon as a metastatic form of NSCLC. This report describes a patient with gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage owing to a metastatic liver tumor of NSCLC. The patient, a male smoker with stage IV NSCLC, was free of any hepatitis viral infection and had no alcohol addiction. Liver dysfunction and liver disease had never been pointed out in his medical history. His tumor harbored an L858R epidermal growth factor receptor mutation. Gefitinib was initiated but had to be ceased because of interstitial lung disease. Sequential steroid therapy was effective and bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy was commenced. Both chemotherapy regimens produced favorable effects against the metastatic liver tumor, eliciting atrophic change regardless of the chemotherapy-free interval. One day the patient was admitted to our hospital because of black stool and hypotension. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a beaded appearance of the gastroesophageal varix with bloody gastric contents. The portal hypertension might have been caused by changes in portal vein hemodynamics induced by the conformational changes underlying the favorable response of the liver tumor to molecular targeted chemotherapy and notable regression.

Obstructive jaundice at the initial presentation in small-cell lung cancer

Obstructive jaundice sometimes may develop in association with advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC); however, SCLC initially presenting with obstructive jaundice is rare. This report presents the cases of two SCLC patients with obstructive jaundice at the initial diagnosis. A 64-year-old male presented with obstructive jaundice due to a tumor at the head of the pancreas. He was diagnosed with SCLC by transbronchial biopsy from a lung tumor in the left upper lobe. Another 74-year-old male was admitted with jaundice due to a tumor in the porta hepatis. He was also diagnosed with SCLC by a fine-needle aspiration biopsy of a lung tumor in the left lower lobe. Both cases were successfully treated with systemic chemotherapy after endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage.

[Acute pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice secondary to metastases from lung cancer]

Lung cancer is one of the most frequent neoplasms. The symptoms are due to the cancer itself, its extension, and associated paraneoplastic syndromes. Although biliopancreatic metastases are common, biliopancreatic involvement as the initial symptom of lung cancer--whether as pancreatitis or obstructive jaundice--is rare. We describe our clinical experience, reporting two patients with acute pancreatitis and one patient with obstructive jaundice as the clinical presentation of advanced lung cancer. We also provide a brief review that highlights the absence of guidelines in this situation.

Usefulness of FDG-PET/CT in the detection of pancreatic metastases from lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the ability to detect pancreatic metastasis of lung cancer and to clarify the degree of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation and computed tomography (CT) characteristics of pancreatic metastasis from lung cancer.

METHODS

A total of 573 patients (415 men and 158 women) with lung cancer were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent FDG-positron emission tomography (PET)/CT with contrast-enhanced CT for first=stage (313 patients; initial study group) or follow-up study (260 patients; follow-up study group). A lesion was regarded as positive for metastasis on the basis of visual judgment of the degree of increased metabolism by two experienced and independent interpreters, supported by semiquantitative evaluation on the basis of calculation of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)).

RESULTS

Abnormal accumulations in the pancreas were detected in 5 of 313 patients (1.60%) in the initial study group, and 6 of 260 patients (2.31%) in the follow-up study group. Seven of these patients had adenocarcinoma, three had small cell carcinoma, and the rest had large cell endocrine carcinoma. Tumor sizes (longitudinal diameter), measured by CT, of these 11 patients ranged from 6 mm to 52 mm (mean +/- SD 8.3 mm +/- 11.9 mm), and SUV(max) for 1 h ranged from 3.37 to 11.1 (mean +/- SD 6.12 +/- 2.43). Three of these pancreatic lesions were difficult to determine by routine transaxial images, and detection was obvious only by thin-slice images or multiplanar reconstruction images. Contrast-enhanced CT showed gradual fill-in from the peripheral portion to the center. In addition, 10 of 11 cases did not show main pancreatic duct dilatation even if the tumor size was large.

CONCLUSIONS

Metastases to the pancreas in lung cancer patients are not so rare and radiologists first have an important role to detect the pancreatic mass and then suggest to metastasis as the likely diagnosis. For this purpose, FDG-PET/CT has an advantage in depicting unsuspected pancreatic metastasis from lung cancer, particularly that which is not detected by CT alone.

Lung adenocarcinoma presenting as obstructive jaundice: a case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is known to metastasize to the pancreas with several case reports found in the literature, however, most patients are at an advanced stage and receive palliative treatment.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe the case of a 56 year old male patient who presented with a picture of obstructive jaundice. Investigations revealed an obstructing lesion in the pancreas and a further lesion in the lung with benign appearances. The patient underwent a pancreatectomy and, unexpectedly, the histology of the resected specimen demonstrated metastatic adenocarcinoma of bronchogenic origin. He was referred to a cardiothoracic team who proceeded to resect the patient's thoracic lesion before administration of adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient was reviewed 18 months post operatively and remains symptom free with no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence. We were unable to identify any previous case reports (of lung adenocarcinoma) with such a presentation which were ultimately treated with resection of both lesions.

CONCLUSION

Similar situations are bound to arise again in the future and we believe that this report could demonstrate that there is a case for aggressive surgical management in a highly selected group of patients: those with NSCLC and a synchronous solitary pancreatic deposit.

Obstructive jaundice caused by secondary pancreatic tumor from malignant solitary fibrous tumor of pleura: A case report

A 77-year-old man on systemic chemotherapy against postoperative bilateral multiple lung metastases of malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura suffered from pruritus and jaundice. Blood examination showed elevated levels of hepatobiliary enzymes. Abdominal computed tomography showed a tumor with peripheral enhancement in the pancreatic head, accompanied with the dilatation of intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts. He was diagnosed as having obstructive jaundice caused by a pancreatic head tumor. The pancreatic head tumor was presumably diagnosed as the metastasis of malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura, because the findings on the pancreatic head tumor on abdominal CT were similar to those on the primary lung lesion of malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. The pancreatic tumor grew rapidly after the implantation of metallic stent in the inferior part of the common bile duct. The patient died of lymphangitis carcinomatosa of the lungs. Autopsy revealed a tumor that spread from the pancreatic head to the hepatic hilum. Microscopically, spindle-shaped cells exhibiting nuclear atypicality or division together with collagen deposition were observed. Immunohistochemically the pancreatic head tumor cells were negative for staining of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) or CD117, but positive for vimentin, CD34 and CD99. These findings are consistent with those on malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. We report the first case of obstructive jaundice caused by a secondary pancreatic tumor from malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.

Ramifications of severe organ dysfunction in newly diagnosed patients with small cell lung cancer: Contemporary experience from a single institution

Small cell lung cancer is highly sensitive to chemotherapy, and a survival advantage with its use is well established. However, whether chemotherapy also confers such benefits to patients with severe organ dysfunction has not been extensively studied. The goal of this study was to provide further guidance for clinical decision-making. Medical records from small cell lung cancer patients who were seen at a single tertiary care institution between 1994 and 2002 were reviewed. All patients with severe organ dysfunction were identified. The latter was defined as creatinine >/=3mg/dl, total bilirubin>/=3mg/dl, and/or platelet count</=50 x10(6) per milliliter. An in depth review of treatment and outcome in this patient subgroup was then undertaken. A total of 993 small cell lung cancer patients were seen during this period, and 25 (2.5%) had severe organ dysfunction. Eleven had been treated with chemotherapy, 11 had not, and this information was not retrievable in 3. Cyclophosphamide, etoposide (oral or intravenous), paclitaxel, cisplatin, or carboplatin were prescribed as single agents or in combination; 8 of 11 patients received an initial dose reduction. With chemotherapy, three patients normalized their bilirubin, and one manifested a notable drop. Median survival was 150 days for chemotherapy-treated patients but only 10 days for those who did not receive it. One patient died a few days after chemotherapy; three others were hospitalized immediately thereafter; and two were lost to follow up. In five patients, no notable adverse events were noted in the medical record. These preliminary findings suggest that, even in the presence of severe organ dysfunction, a subgroup of small cell lung cancer patients can tolerate chemotherapy, normalize their laboratory parameters, and go on to live for several months.

Diagnosis of nonprimary pancreatic neoplasms by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a proven modality for the diagnosis of primary pancreatic neoplasms. We describe our experience in diagnosing nonprimary pancreatic tumors by EUS-FNA. Cytology files were searched for all EUS-FNA of the pancreas for the period 2000-2002. All cases diagnosed as neoplasms were selected and those diagnosed as nonprimary pancreatic tumors were reviewed and analyzed. One hundred ninety-one of 468 cases were diagnosed as neoplasms. Eleven of these cases were diagnosed as nonprimary pancreatic tumors (2.4% of all diagnoses and 5.7% of all neoplasms). The diagnoses were supported by clinical history (n = 7), cytological findings (n = 11), cell block histology (n = 11), cell block immunohistochemistry (n = 6), and flow cytometry (n = 1). EUS-FNA is a safe and minimally invasive method for the diagnosis of nonprimary pancreatic neoplasms. Evaluation of clinical history, cytomorphology, and ancillary techniques, especially those applied to cell block material, are essential for accurate diagnoses.

Pancreatic tumors in patients with lung malignancies: a spectrum of clinicopathologic considerations

OBJECTIVES

Lung cancer and pancreatic cancer are the most lethal tobacco-associated malignancies. To elucidate possible clinical interrelationships, the authors reviewed the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients treated for both pulmonary and pancreatic neoplasms.

METHODS

Patients presenting with a potentially resectable pancreatic mass and a diagnosis of metachronous malignant neoplasm of the lung were studied by retrospective chart audit and review of histopathologic material.

RESULTS

Seven patients were identified over 6 years, representing five different clinical entities: metachronous presence of lung cancer and pancreatic cancer (n = 3), lung cancer metastatic to the pancreas (n = 1), lung cancer with a benign pancreatic neoplasm (n = 1), periampullary cancer metastatic to the lung (n = 1), and malignant melanoma metastatic to both lung and pancreas (n = 1). A tobacco history was present in all patients but one. Primary treatment modality was complete resection of isolated sites whenever feasible (lung resection, n = 6; pancreatic resection, n = 5). In four cases, a differential diagnosis of adenocarcinomas of both lung and pancreas was obtained after cytokeratin (CK) 7 and CK 20 immunohistochemistry. All patients with evidence of nodal or visceral metastasis from either primary site (n = 4) died within 5 to 9 months after the last operation. Three of four patients who had undergone resection of both pulmonary and pancreatic tumors were alive between 17 and 67 months after the last operation. All three survivors had presented with early disease stages and/or a protracted course (diagnostic interval, 16-66 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience with neoplastic conditions that can involve lungs and pancreas metachronously may be useful to the clinician who is confronted with a similar situation. If therapeutic decision-making depends on differential diagnostic analysis, examination of CK 20 expression appears to be helpful. Although biologically favorable circumstances are rarely present, long-term survival seems possible after complete operative treatment in selected patients with early-stage disease.

Secondary tumors of the pancreas: an analysis of a surgical and autopsy database and review of the literature

The vast majority of pancreatic carcinomas are primary, and, among these, more than 90% are of ductal origin. However, a variety of extrapancreatic tumors may involve the pancreas secondarily and may manifest different clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes. In this study, pathology material from 973 surgical specimens and 4955 adult autopsy cases was reviewed to identify the tumors metastatic to or secondarily involving the pancreas. Biliary and periampullary neoplasms and tumors confined to peripancreatic soft tissue were excluded. In the autopsy series, the pancreas was involved by tumor in 190 cases, and 81 of these were secondary tumors. These were predominantly of epithelial origin, most commonly from lung (34), followed by GI tract (20), kidney (4), breast (3), liver (2), ovary (1), and urinary bladder (1). In addition, there were six tumors of hematopoietic origin, two melanomas, two sarcomas, and two mesotheliomas. Among the 973 surgical specimens, 38 cases contained metastatic tumors to the pancreas. Of these, 11 were lymphomas, and the others were carcinomas of stomach (7), kidney (6), lung (2), liver, prostate, ovary, uterus (1 case of each), and a Merkel cell carcinoma. In addition, there were three malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors and one retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma. In conclusion, lung cancer is the most common source of metastasis to pancreas, followed by gastrointestinal carcinomas and lymphomas. These tumors are usually seen in patients with disseminated disease and are detected mainly in autopsies. Secondary tumors constitute about 4% of pancreatic specimens in the authors' surgical database. Approximately one-third of them are clinically mistaken as primary tumors of the pancreas. These are predominantly hematopoietic malignancies or carcinomas of renal or gastric origin. Secondary tumors should be entertained in both the clinical and pathological differential diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasia.

Metastatic liver disease and fulminant hepatic failure: presentation of a case and review of the literature

Although liver metastases are commonly found in cancer patients, fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) secondary to diffuse liver infiltration is rare. Furthermore, clinical presentation and laboratory findings are obscure and far from being pathognomonic for the disease. We report a case of a patient who died in the intensive care unit of our hospital from multiple organ failure syndrome secondary to FHF, as a result of liver infiltration from poorly differentiated small cell lung carcinoma. We also present the current knowledge about the clinical picture, laboratory findings and physical history of neoplastic liver-metastasis-induced FHF.

Metastatic small cell lung cancer causing biliary obstruction

We report a case with metastatic small cell lung cancer which first manifested with biliary obstruction due to metastasis. Prognosis of patients presenting with jaundice due to hepatic parenchyma involvement is thought to be poor. However, the patient was successfully treated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and combination chemotherapy with reduced dosage. We believe this to be the first such case report, despite the frequency of metastasis to the liver from small cell lung cancer.

Extrahepatic biliary obstruction by metastatic gastric carcinoma

Forty-one patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction by metastatic gastric carcinoma underwent retrospective study to determine demographics, clinical features, laboratory findings on presentation, time interval from previous gastrectomy, level of biliary obstruction, methods of palliation, complications from treatment, treatment results, and survival. Thirty-seven patients underwent biliary decompression by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) (35 patients), endoscopic insertion of plastic stent (one patient), and operative insertion of T tube (1 patient). The remaining 4 patients had no biliary drainage procedure performed. Subsequently expandable metallic biliary stents were inserted in 9 patients through the PTBD tract. Two patients received postdrainage external irradiation. Reduction in serum total bilirubin was seen in all patients after drainage. Two patients were alive at the time of this analysis. The median survival of these 41 patients was only 70 days. The 6- and 9-month survival rates were 27.0% and 9.7%, respectively. Hemoglobin (p < 0.001) and total bilirubin (p < 0.002) on presentation were found to be independent factors predicting survival. Extrahepatic biliary obstruction by metastatic gastric carcinoma was associated with poor survival. Patients with profound anemia or jaundice on presentation carried the worst prognosis.

Radical pancreatoduodenectomy for misdiagnosed pancreatic mass

Occasionally pancreatoduodenectomy is performed for clinically suspected pancreatic malignancy only for the surgeon to find that a benign aetiology accounts for the pancreatic mass. The aim of this study was twofold: to determine the incidence of pancreatoduodenectomy performed for a misdiagnosis of pancreatoduodenal malignancy and to identify potentially avoidable errors in preoperative and intraoperative judgement. Between 1956 and 1990, radical pancreatoduodenectomy was performed in 603 patients at the Mayo Clinic; 29 (5 per cent) underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for a diagnosis made before and during surgery of primary pancreatic or periampullary malignancy that was later proven histopathologically to be either unsuspected subacute or chronic pancreatitis (22 patients), benign fibrous common bile duct stricture (two), and penetrating duodenal ulcer, metastatic melanoma, ampullary adenoma, intrahepatic drug-induced cholestasis and pseudocyst (one each). No patient had a preoperative diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Weight loss, pain and/or jaundice were present in 27 of the 29 patients. Objective imaging tests, such as computed tomography, ultrasonography and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, were performed in 25 patients. Potential errors in judgement may be avoided by a more aggressive attempt at biopsy in selected patients; in others, resection for presumed malignancy may be unavoidable.

The role of radiation treatment in management of extrahepatic biliary tract metastasis from gastric carcinoma

PURPOSE

To determine the proper role of radiation treatment in the management of patients with extrahepatic biliary tract metastasis due to recurrent gastric cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Twenty patients with malignant biliary obstruction due to recurrent gastric carcinoma after gastrectomy were treated with palliative intent at the Yonsei University College of Medicine from 1986 to 1990. Treatment consisted of external drainage alone in 11 patients (Group I) and external drainage followed by radiation treatment in nine patients (Group II). Five of nine patients in Group II underwent external irradiation in combination with intraluminal brachytherapy using high dose rate Iridium-192 (Ir-192) sources within the expandable intrabiliary prosthesis, a Gianturco stent, inserted transhepatically at the site of obstruction.

RESULTS

An excellent local response was observed in five of nine patients in Group II, in whom biliary patency was restored following treatment so that the external drainage catheter could be removed. Prolongation of median survival was observed in Group II (9 months) as compared to Group I (2 months). There were no serious treatment-related complications with this approach.

CONCLUSION

This treatment approach with external radiotherapy +/- intraluminal brachytherapy could achieve effective palliation and improve the quality of life in selected patients with extrahepatic biliary metastasis from gastric carcinoma.

Primary chemotherapy for obstructive jaundice caused by intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) usually is treated with doxorubicin-based combination chemotherapy. Because doxorubicin is excreted by the biliary route, many authorities recommend alternative initial interventions in patients with NHL causing obstructive jaundice.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of patients at Rochester General Hospital with NHL between 1983 and 1989 with obstructive jaundice at initial diagnosis.

RESULTS

Five patients with obstructive jaundice due to intermediate-grade NHL were treated with combination chemotherapy without prior surgical or endoscopic biliary decompression, or radiation therapy. Three received higher doses of doxorubicin than called for in standard dose modification tables. Jaundice was relieved rapidly in all five patients without unexpected toxic effects, and all five patients entered remission (three had partial remission and two complete remission).

CONCLUSIONS

Because biliary obstruction resolves rapidly after administration of chemotherapy for this disease, it is possible that standard dose reductions for doxorubicin and vincristine that are appropriate for patients with hepatocellular disease may be excessive for patients with obstructive jaundice resulting from lymphoma. The results of this study indicate that combination chemotherapy is appropriate initial therapy for patients with newly diagnosed NHL with obstructive jaundice.

Small cell carcinoma of the lung

Small cell lung cancer is a common, usually fatal neoplasm. Although palliative therapy is available for the majority of patients, only a very small minority enjoy long-term survival. Ironically, this neoplasm is nearly entirely preventable and a successful antismoking program is desperately needed. Our efforts to understand the basic biology of this tumor should continue, and, hopefully, will eventually translate into improvements in therapy. In addition to following the leads provided by basic research, a concerted clinical research effort needs to continue to build upon the advances already achieved.