[An autopsied case of an amylase-producing lung cancer]

An autopsy involving a case of a amylase-producing lung cancer is reported. The patient was a 80-year-old female, who had been admitted with dyspnea and right pleural effusion. Cytological examination of this pleural effusion revealed adenocarcinoma cells. On clinical examination, owing to a lack of particular changes in the other organs, lung cancer was suspected. She received chemotherapy but died of respiratory failure. Serum examination showed a high amylase level throughout her clinical course. The autopsy revealed a diffuse gray-whitish tumor in the right lower lobe with metastasis to the lungs, diaphragm, epicardium, spleen, liver, colon, and the regional lymph-nodes. Histologically, a well-differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma was revealed in the primary and metastatic areas. Immunohistochemical stains showed positive salivary gland-type amylase activity in the cytoplasms of the tumor cell.