Resection of Lung Cancer with Left Atrium Extension via the Pulmonary Vein: Case Report

Abstract

A 49-year-old man had an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. Enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an 8-cm diameter right lung mass invading the right chest wall, with a tumor thrombus extending from the superior pulmonary vein into the left atrium. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed that the tumor adjoined the side wall of the atrium. Endobronchial and CT-guided needle biopsy demonstrated a low-grade carcinoma or small cell carcinoma. Operative findings through left atriotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass showed no tumor invasion of the atrium wall, but protrusion through the pulmonary vein. Frozen sections revealed a non-small cell carcinoma. We performed right upper lobectomy with parietal pleura and mediastinal lymph node dissection after detachment of cardiopulmonary bypass. Pathological examination demonstrated a large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma p-T4N0M0, stage IIIA. The patient recovered without postoperative complications and tolerated two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. He was doing well without symptoms of recurrence 42 months after surgery.