Rapidly Progressive Diffuse Alveolar Damage Following Transbronchial Lung Biopsy in a Patient with Lung Adenocarcinoma: An Autopsy Case Report
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: An 80-year-old man with a persistent cough underwent chest computed tomography, which revealed a pulmonary mass with subtle ground-glass opacities. A transbronchial lung biopsy confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. Shortly after bronchoscopy, the patient developed rapidly progressive hypoxemic respiratory failure, consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Despite treatment with antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids, the patient died. The autopsy revealed adenocarcinoma with lymphangitic carcinomatosis and diffuse alveolar damage throughout both lungs, the latter being considered the immediate cause of death. This case indicates that diffuse alveolar damage-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome may occur even in treatment-naïve lung cancer patients.
Source: Internal Medicine
Authors: Hiromi Idehata, Yu Nakanishi, Aoi Kurihara, Sora Mishima, Takahiro Kanbara, Takashi Saito, Shoshi Akieda, Masako Watanabe, Ryohei Nishino, Soichi Kitaguchi, Mayumi Kaneko, Fumihiro Sugahara
Institution: Hiroshima City Asa Citizens Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7171968939