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Obstructive jaundice at the initial presentation in small-cell lung cancer
Nobuaki Ochi1, Nagio Takigawa, Masayuki Yasugi
1Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Okayama University Graduate school of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical sciences, Okayama, Japan.
International Medical Case Reports Journal
|June 12, 2013
Summary
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) rarely presents initially with obstructive jaundice. This report details two such rare cases, successfully managed with chemotherapy after biliary drainage.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Obstructive jaundice can be associated with advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).
- However, SCLC presenting initially with obstructive jaundice is uncommon.
- This highlights a rare clinical presentation of SCLC.
Observation:
- Two male patients, aged 64 and 74, presented with obstructive jaundice.
- Jaundice was caused by tumors located at the pancreatic head and porta hepatis, respectively.
- Both patients had concurrent lung tumors diagnosed via biopsy.
Findings:
- Both patients were diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) as the underlying cause of their obstructive jaundice.
- Diagnostic procedures included transbronchial biopsy and fine-needle aspiration biopsy of lung tumors.
- The primary tumors responsible for biliary obstruction were identified in conjunction with SCLC.
Implications:
- This presentation underscores the importance of considering SCLC in patients with unexplained obstructive jaundice.
- Systemic chemotherapy proved effective in managing SCLC presenting with jaundice.
- Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage provided initial symptomatic relief, facilitating subsequent chemotherapy.
