“Cheerios in the lung” as first metastases from endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma with adequate response to immunotherapy

Abstract Background Metastases from endometrial carcinoma to the lungs are uncommon and cavitating metastases are even rarer. In some cases, lung cavitating metastases may resemble diffuse “Cheerios in the lung.” Case presentation A 58-year-old woman, smoker, with a history of hysteroannessiectomy a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chiara De Nardo, Nicholas Landini, Michele Massaro, Angelina Pernazza, Francesca Arienzo, Marco Bicchetti, Valeria Panebianco, Carlo Catalano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2023-09-01
Series:The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43055-023-01079-w
Description
Summary:Abstract Background Metastases from endometrial carcinoma to the lungs are uncommon and cavitating metastases are even rarer. In some cases, lung cavitating metastases may resemble diffuse “Cheerios in the lung.” Case presentation A 58-year-old woman, smoker, with a history of hysteroannessiectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for a low stage endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma, came under our attention for dry cough without fever that persisted for over three months, and computed tomography (CT) revealed diffuse cavitating lung metastases resembling "Cheerios in the lung". After standard chemotherapy proved ineffective, Lenvatinib plus Pembrolizumab (immunotherapy) was administrated, leading to the disappearance of all lung nodules, leaving behind a diffuse emphysematous-like pattern. Conclusions This case is a rare example of metastatic endometrioid adenocarcinoma, manifested with chronic dry cough, with “Cheerios in the lung” appearence. The metastases responded well to immunotherapy, resulting in the regression of nodules into areas of diffuse emphysematous-like changes.
ISSN:2090-4762