Description
This specimen comprises the upper lobe of the right lung with the apical segment of the lower lobe
in continuity. There is a cavitating tumour mass in the upper lobe; this measures 4cm in maximum
diameter and contains friable pale tumour which extends into the apical segment of the lower lobe.
The adjacent lung is compressed. In places the tumour cavity appears to be lined by a relatively
thick pseudocapsule. Tumour can be seen infiltrating this capsule and extending towards the right
main bronchus. The lung immediately adjacent to the tumour cavity shows lipoid pneumonia.
There is a pronounced subpleural anthracosis and two lymph nodes situated in the hilum are also
anthracotic.
History
This 66-year-old man presented with a small right upper lobe mass discovered incidently
on routine chest x-ray. Radical right upper lobectomy was undertaken and the patient made an
uneventful recovery. He re-presented seven months later with metastatic tumour in a left axillary
lymph node. There was a further recurrence in the left groin nine months after this. He died as a
consequence of metastatic disease, two years after his initial presentation.