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Gastrointestinal hemorrhage and small cell carcinoma
T Payne1, S Mayfield-Stokes, J Powers
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY.
The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Gastrointestinal bleeding is an uncommon presenting symptom for lung cancer. This case highlights small cell lung cancer diagnosed via colon biopsy when pulmonary disease was not radiographically evident.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Bronchogenic carcinoma, a common malignancy, typically disseminates via lymphangitic and hematogenous routes.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms are infrequent as the initial presentation of lung cancer, making diagnosis challenging.
Observation:
- A patient with small cell carcinoma of the lung presented with acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
- Initial radiographic evaluations did not reveal apparent pulmonary disease.
Findings:
- Biopsy specimens from the colon confirmed the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma.
- This underscores the possibility of occult lung cancer presenting with gastrointestinal manifestations.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering non-gastrointestinal primary tumors in cases of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Emphasizes the diagnostic value of tissue biopsies in unexpected anatomical locations.
- Suggests a need for broader diagnostic considerations in oncology and gastroenterology referrals.