Large cell carcinoma of the lung with a rhabdoid phenotype

A variant of large cell carcinoma showing a rhabdoid phenotype, which is rare among primary lung cancers, is presented. A 59-year-old man was admitted to hospital for an operation. Computed tomography scans showed a mass with a smooth border, invading the thoracic wall. A right upper lobe lobectomy was carried out with resection of a part of the thoracic wall. Pathological examination showed that the tumor was mostly composed of cells with prominent eosinophilic cytoplasmic globules and giant cells, which did not adhere to each other. Cytologically, the tumor cells contained nuclei with a reticular chromatin pattern and one to two prominent nucleoli, and hyaline-like and reticular inclusion bodies, which were immunohistochemically positive for vimentin, but not for alpha-smooth muscle actin, myoglobin or pan-actin. Radiological and laboratory examinations did not detect the presence of the tumor in other organs, indicating that the primary lesion was not situated elsewhere. Metastasis to the right adrenal gland was observed 1 year and 4 months after the operation; however, the patient has been free of the disease 3 years and 11 months after the second operation of an adrenalectomy. This case showed a relatively good prognosis, which is rare among rhabdoid tumors of various organs that generally have poor prognoses with rapid, fatal progression.