A case of long-term survival with stage IV small cell lung cancer and early-stage central-type squamous cell lung cancer treated by photodynamic therapy

Abstract

The present report is on a 67-year-old man with stage IV small cell lung cancer and early-stage centrally located squamous cell cancer of the lung. He was diagnosed as small cell lung cancer with multiple metastasis to the ipsilateral lung and was found to have a central-type early-stage squamous cell cancer by bronchoscope. After obtaining a complete response to the small cell lung cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy was applied to the squamous cell carcinoma, resulting in complete disappearance of the tumor. Recurrence of small cell cancer occurred at the ipsilateral lung and this patient died of small cell cancer 8 years after initiation of treatment. Post mortem examination confirmed complete disappearance of squamous cell cancer treated by photodynamic therapy. This is a rare case of long-term survival with stage IV small cell lung cancer and early-stage central-type squamous cell lung cancer successfully treated by photodynamic therapy. © 1999 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research.