Figure 1. Pleuroscopy showing visceral (star) and parietal pleura (arrow) adenocarcinoma lesions.
A 55 year old man presented with recurrent exudative effusion of unexplained etiology. After non-diagnostic thoracentesis, pleuroscopy was performed. Visceral (star) and parietal pleura (arrow) lesions were found (Figure 1). Biopsies were performed and showed adenocarcinoma consistent with colon cancer on immunohistochemical staining. Subsequent colonoscopy confirmed an asymptomatic colon cancer.
James L. Knepler, Jr. MD
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Arizona Respiratory Center
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Reference as: Knepler JL. Medical image of the week: metastatic colon cancer to the pleura. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care 2013(1);6:4. PDF