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A Case of Spontaneous Regression of Primary Tumor after Adrenalectomy for Primary Lung Cancer with Synchronous Adrenal Metastasis

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Adrenal metastasis from primary lung cancer is relatively common, occurring in approximately 5%-10% of clinical cases. Long-term survival can be achieved through surgical resection of adrenal metastases in addition to primary lesions. Spontaneous regression of cancer is defined as the partial shrinkage or complete disappearance of cancer following no treatment or treatment considered ineffective against cancer. Spontaneous regression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rare. Here, we describe a case of NSCLC with adrenal metastasis, in which the primary tumor exhibited spontaneous regression and was pathologically absent following surgical treatment of the metastatic lesion. CASE PRESENTATION: F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and head MRI, surgical resection of both the primary lung lesion and the adrenal metastasis was planned. Laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was performed, and histological examination confirmed adrenal metastasis from lung cancer. Postoperatively, no new metastases were detected, and CT demonstrated a reduction in the size of the primary lesion. Robot-assisted right upper lobectomy with lobe-specific nodal dissection was subsequently performed. Pathological examination revealed no malignant findings in the resected right upper lobe. The patient was discharged without complications and remains recurrence-free 5 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This report presents a case of primary lung cancer with adrenal metastasis in which the primary tumor underwent spontaneous regression and was pathologically absent following surgical treatment of the metastasis.

Source: Surgical Case Reports

DOI: 10.70352/scrj.cr.25-0379