Pneumonectomy after response to gefitinib treatment for lung adenocarcinoma. (August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Funakoshi, Yasunobu; Takeuchi, Yukiyasu; Maeda, Hajime
• Is Part Of: Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals. Volume 21:Number 4(2013)
• Page Start: 482
• Page End: 484
• Publication Date: 2013-08
• Subjects: Antineoplastic agents -- non-small-cell carcinoma -- gefitinib -- epidermal growth factor receptor -- salvage therapy; Heart -- Diseases -- Asia -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Asia -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Asia -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.412
• DOI: 10.1177/0218492312462834
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0218-4923

Abstract

A 69-year-old Japanese woman who had never smoked had lung adenocarcinoma harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutation. After 8 months of gefitinib treatment, salvage pneumonectomy was performed. Microscopic examination showed that non-responsive adenocarcinoma remained although necrosis was prominent. Postoperatively, the patient developed empyema that was successfully managed. The postoperative empyema after treatment with gefitinib should be noted, as well as the finding that residual viable tumor cells remained even after the dramatic radiographic response.