CHEST 2023 On Demand Pass-Lung Cancer: Interesting Lung Cancer Presentations

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The patient in this case presented with shortness of breath and weight loss. Initial lab work showed high levels of serum amylase and lipase. Chest X-ray and CT imaging revealed a large left-sided pleural effusion and pleural nodules. A thoracentesis was performed and revealed high pleural fluid amylase levels. Esophageal rupture or fistula, pancreatitis, and peripancreatic pleural fistula were initially considered as possible causes. However, the pleural fluid cytology revealed malignant cells consistent with lung adenocarcinoma. VATS was then performed, confirming the diagnosis. This case demonstrates the rare occurrence of high pleural amylase levels in lung adenocarcinoma. While it is not fully understood why lung adenocarcinoma can cause elevated amylase levels, it is sometimes used as a marker of treatment response. The patient is currently undergoing chemotherapy and is being monitored closely by the pulmonologist and hematologist-oncologist.

Meta Tag

Category Lung Cancer

Session ID 4007

Speaker Azeem Arastu

Speaker Hafiza Noor Ul Ain Baloch

Speaker James Bradley

Speaker Kyle DeVault

Speaker Paul Montgomery

Speaker Arnavi Varshney

Track Lung Cancer

Keywords

shortness of breath

weight loss

pleural effusion

pleural nodules

lung adenocarcinoma

VATS

chemotherapy

diagnosis