Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Lung Presenting With Multiple Cavities

A 78-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a two-week history of productive cough. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules with cavities. Although the cytology of her sputum revealed adenocarcinoma, she refused any treatment. Following supportive care, 30 months later, she presented to our hospital with dyspnea and fever. Chest CT showed progression of multiple pulmonary nodules and cavities. Despite treatment with antibiotics and palliative care, she died on the 10th day of hospitalization. Pathological autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA). The typical CT findings of IMA include multiple consolidations or ground-glass opacities mimicking pneumonia; rarely, cavitary lesions are also observed. Clinicians should consider IMA as a differential diagnosis for lung cavities.

Automated summary

A 78-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a two-week history of productive cough. Despite being diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, she refused treatment and eventually died from pulmonary invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma after 30 months. Typical CT findings of IMA include consolidations or ground-glass opacities, mimicking pneumonia, with cavitary lesions rarely observed.