A Case of Dyspnea due to Endobronchial Metastasis from Rectal Cancer

주기관지내 전이에 의해 호흡곤란을 일으킨 직장암 1예

Endobronchial metastases from extrathoracic primary malignancies are uncommon. Breast, renal, and colonic carcinomas are primary sites most likely to give rise to endobronchial metastases. A number of other tumours have been reported as being complicated by endobronchial metastasis, including ovarian, thyroid, uterine, adrenal, testicular and prostatic carcinomas. The incidence of endobronchial metastasis has been estimated at 2% in patients who died of metastatic disease. Lung parenchymal metastases are common manifestations in patients with rectal cancer, however spread to the major airway is extremely rare. We herein report a case of endobronchial metastasis from rectal adenocarcinoma. A 69-year-old male patient who had been previously treated with surgical resection with rectal cancer presented with a 8-month history of gradually increasing dyspnea and non-productive cough. Clinical and radiological investigations revealed endobronchial metastasis involving, and penetrating, the lower carina and the left main bronchus. We confirmed endobronchial metastasis from the rectal carcinoma by bronchoscopic biopsy.