Tuberc Respir Dis.  2008 Mar;64(3):215-218. 10.4046/trd.2008.64.3.215.

Fatal Tumor Lysis Syndrome During Chemotherapy in Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Kook EH
• Kim MS
• Ahn SH
• Jeon SY
• Yoon JH
• Han MS
• Kim CH
• Lee JC

• KMID: 1478184
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2008.64.3.215

Abstract

Tumor lysis syndrome is a life-threatening complication of anti-cancer therapy that typically occurs in patients with large, rapidly growing and treatment-sensitive tumors such as high-grade lymphomas and acute leukemias. However, its incidence in solid tumors has been known to be very low. Tumor lysis syndrome in solid tumors has a high mortality rate owing to the lack of prophylactic therapy to prevent this complication. We report a case of fatal tumor lysis syndrome developed during chemotherapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, along with a brief review of the relevant literature considering the rarity of this manifestation in solid tumor.

Keyword

Small cell lung cancer; Tumor lysis syndrome

MeSH Terms

Humans
Incidence
Leukemia
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Figure

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  Figure 1 (A) Chest CT showed a large lobulated mass in RUL, which extended into the mediastinum narrowing SVC. Bilateral pleural implants of tumor with small pleural effusion on right side were also found. (B) Huge hepatomegaly caused by multiple metastatic masses with small ascites was noted on abdomen CT.

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  Figure 2 (A) Percutaneous needle aspiration to lung mass revealed clusters of tumor cells containing little cytoplasm and chromatin in nucleus as 'salt and pepper' pattern (Papanicolau stain, ×400). (B) Thinprep. cytology of paracentesis showed similar findings. (C) Immunostaining for CD56 was positive in cytoplasm and cell membrane confirming small cell carcinoma.

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