Miliary pattern on chest imaging as a presentation of EGFR-negative primary lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

A 64-year-old African American man, with a history of prostate adenocarcinoma treated in 2009 and a greater than 50-pack-year tobacco smoking history, presented with 2-3 weeks of non-productive cough, frontal headache and generalised myalgias and arthralgias. CT was positive for diffuse, miliary opacities in bilateral lung fields. He was diagnosed with stage four lung adenocarcinoma, negative for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation. The patient was unable to tolerate therapy and passed away approximately 4 months after his diagnosis. Previous case reports and research have suggested an association between EGFR gene mutation and miliary patterned lung metastases in non-small cell lung cancer. This case suggests that the mechanism by which miliary patterned metastases occur is more complex than purely mutation of the EGFR gene. Further study may elucidate novel molecular targets for treatment, especially in patients with rapidly progressive disease such as the patient we describe.

Keywords: lung cancer (oncology); oncology; respiratory cancer; respiratory medicine; tobacco-related disease.