Late Recurrence of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma after Lung Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction: Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) of the lung has a less aggressive behavior than other adenocarcinoma subtypes. Overall, the propensity for nodal and distant metastases is low, but spread throughout the lungs is frequent. The radiographic “ground glass” presentation ma...

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Main Authors: Eveline Claeys, Nico De Crem, Pierre Van Mol, Arno Vanstapel, Laurens Joseph Ceulemans, Dirk Van Raemdonck, Christophe Dooms, Walter De Wever, Christophe Michel Deroose, Isabelle Vanden Bempt, Birgit Weynand, Robin Vos, Els Wauters
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2025-05-01
Series:Case Reports in Oncology
Online Access:https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000545190
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author Eveline Claeys
Nico De Crem
Pierre Van Mol
Arno Vanstapel
Laurens Joseph Ceulemans
Dirk Van Raemdonck
Christophe Dooms
Walter De Wever
Christophe Michel Deroose
Isabelle Vanden Bempt
Birgit Weynand
Robin Vos
Els Wauters
author_facet Eveline Claeys
Nico De Crem
Pierre Van Mol
Arno Vanstapel
Laurens Joseph Ceulemans
Dirk Van Raemdonck
Christophe Dooms
Walter De Wever
Christophe Michel Deroose
Isabelle Vanden Bempt
Birgit Weynand
Robin Vos
Els Wauters
author_sort Eveline Claeys
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) of the lung has a less aggressive behavior than other adenocarcinoma subtypes. Overall, the propensity for nodal and distant metastases is low, but spread throughout the lungs is frequent. The radiographic “ground glass” presentation makes differentiation between infectious and inflammatory consolidations challenging, and the diagnosis of malignancy is often unexpected. Case Presentation: A 50-year-old patient underwent double lung transplantation (LTx) in July 2018 for progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD). IMA was unexpectedly found in the explant lungs. Pre-transplant PET-CT scans suggested inflammatory ILD without malignancy. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine needle aspiration of the enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes demonstrated no evidence of malignancy. Post-transplant pathology confirmed stage IVA IMA with a KRAS G12D mutation. After 3 years, recurrent IMA was detected. The asymptomatic patient remains under close surveillance with stable lung function, and tailored treatment will be considered if progression occurs. Conclusion: IMA is currently rarely considered an indication for LTx. The risk of recurrence after transplantation is substantial, and recurrence negatively impacts long-term post-transplant prognosis. Incidental adenocarcinoma in explant lungs will remain a complication of imperfect transplant recipient selection. A high index of suspicion of disease recurrence in the donor lungs should be maintained in these patients. Further research is required to understand the optimal screening, treatment, and follow-up of these patients.
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spelling doaj-art-475f2f7d58d64be182a454fa1a83e9762025-08-20T01:57:47ZengKarger PublishersCase Reports in Oncology1662-65752025-05-0118164665210.1159/000545190Late Recurrence of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma after Lung Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature ReviewEveline ClaeysNico De CremPierre Van MolArno VanstapelLaurens Joseph CeulemansDirk Van RaemdonckChristophe Doomshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7324-7977Walter De WeverChristophe Michel DerooseIsabelle Vanden BemptBirgit Weynandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4246-6303Robin VosEls Wauters Introduction: Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) of the lung has a less aggressive behavior than other adenocarcinoma subtypes. Overall, the propensity for nodal and distant metastases is low, but spread throughout the lungs is frequent. The radiographic “ground glass” presentation makes differentiation between infectious and inflammatory consolidations challenging, and the diagnosis of malignancy is often unexpected. Case Presentation: A 50-year-old patient underwent double lung transplantation (LTx) in July 2018 for progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD). IMA was unexpectedly found in the explant lungs. Pre-transplant PET-CT scans suggested inflammatory ILD without malignancy. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine needle aspiration of the enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes demonstrated no evidence of malignancy. Post-transplant pathology confirmed stage IVA IMA with a KRAS G12D mutation. After 3 years, recurrent IMA was detected. The asymptomatic patient remains under close surveillance with stable lung function, and tailored treatment will be considered if progression occurs. Conclusion: IMA is currently rarely considered an indication for LTx. The risk of recurrence after transplantation is substantial, and recurrence negatively impacts long-term post-transplant prognosis. Incidental adenocarcinoma in explant lungs will remain a complication of imperfect transplant recipient selection. A high index of suspicion of disease recurrence in the donor lungs should be maintained in these patients. Further research is required to understand the optimal screening, treatment, and follow-up of these patients. https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000545190
spellingShingle Eveline Claeys
Nico De Crem
Pierre Van Mol
Arno Vanstapel
Laurens Joseph Ceulemans
Dirk Van Raemdonck
Christophe Dooms
Walter De Wever
Christophe Michel Deroose
Isabelle Vanden Bempt
Birgit Weynand
Robin Vos
Els Wauters
Late Recurrence of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma after Lung Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review
Case Reports in Oncology
title Late Recurrence of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma after Lung Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full Late Recurrence of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma after Lung Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_fullStr Late Recurrence of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma after Lung Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Late Recurrence of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma after Lung Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_short Late Recurrence of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma after Lung Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_sort late recurrence of mucinous adenocarcinoma after lung transplantation a case report and literature review
url https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000545190
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