A case of ALK -Associated Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Evidence of Omental Metastasis 6 years after Initial Presentation

Abstract

SUMMARY We report a case of a never-smoker male originally diagnosed with stage IIIb non-small-cell lung cancer that then presented with metastatic disease (EGFR/KRAS wild-type and ALK-positive) confined to the omentum 6 years later. Early metastasis to a variety of internal organs is common in the course of disease. Gastrointestinal metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer is relatively rare and is typically found in the gastric or small bowel regions. Metastasis to the omentum is commonly seen with certain gynecologic cancer, but has not yet been well documented in pulmonary malignancies. Increasing use of molecular markers has altered the diagnosis, management and possible long-term prognosis of various subcategories of lung cancer. ALK-associated mutations have been found in a small minority of patients and its presence requires the use of novel therapeutics and, possibly, more prolonged surveillance for late metastasis.