Primary small-cell carcinoma in the lung was found after the cold snare polypectomy of the small metastatic lesion in the cecum: A case report

DEN Open. 2023 Jun 26;4(1):e266. doi: 10.1002/deo2.266. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Metastasis from small-cell lung cancer to the colon is very rare. A 74-year-old man without respiratory or abdominal symptoms underwent a follow-up lower gastrointestinal endoscopy after a polypectomy. He was diagnosed with a 5 mm IIa non-hyperplastic polyp in the cecum and underwent a cold snare polypectomy. The histopathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. The tumor was positive in the deep margins of the submucosal layer. Subsequent systemic examination revealed a mass in the lower lobe of the left lung. Thus, the tumor in the cecum was determined to be a colorectal metastasis from primary small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Metastasis to the colon was diagnosed as small-cell lung cancer based on local positivity for thyroid transcription factor-1 and morphologic and immunochemical features. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of colon metastasis from small cell carcinoma identified by endoscopic treatment.

Keywords: cold snare polypectomy; colorectal metastasis; non‐hyperplastic polyps; small-cell lung cancer; thyroid transcription factor‐1.

Publication types

  • Case Reports