Advanced cystic lung cancer complicated with pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis: a case report

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis (PLC) is a life-threatening complication of intrathoracic malignant tumors and is characterized by tumor cell spread via the pulmonary lymphatic system. The lymphatic vessel dilation, interstitial thickening and edema caused by the tumor can lead to progressive breathing difficulties, which is a typical clinical feature of this condition. Pleuritic pain may occur if subpleural lymphatics are obstructed, but clinical manifestations are often non-specific. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage with respiratory failure, and there is no definitive therapy; thus, the overall prognosis remains poor with short survival. Herein, we report a case of advanced cavitary lung adenocarcinoma complicated with PLC, with pericardial effusion and mediastinal or pericardial metastases. The patient underwent palliative surgery followed by sequential chemotherapy and immunotherapy and had survived for 41 months as of the last follow-up.