An Elderly Man With Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor and a Cavitary Right Upper Lobe Lung Mass

An elderly man presented to the ED from a nursing care facility after transient loss of consciousness. Three weeks previously, the patient had been diagnosed with a high-grade pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET) with metastases to the liver after being hospitalized for weakness. A chest radiograph at that time had revealed a right upper lobe mass that was presumed to represent a metastatic lesion (Fig 1); CT of the chest demonstrated similar findings (Fig 2). The patient had recovered consciousness on arrival to the ED and was diagnosed clinically as having had a syncopal episode from dehydration due to poor intake. On review of systems, the patient reported shortness of breath and a cough productive of scant mucoid sputum of 1 week's duration. He had no complaints of fever but complained of weakness and poor appetite. In addition, his medical history was significant for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure with systolic dysfunction. He was a former smoker. Prior to his recent illness and hospitalization, he lived at home with his family and was independent in his activities of daily living.