title: Small cell lung cancer in a young patient with osteopetrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteopetrosis or Albers-Schönberg's disease is a heterogeneous group of rare hereditary troubles of the bone characterized by bone sclerosis due to an alteration of the bone reabsorption mediated by osteoclasts. The defect in the osteoclastic activity is responsible for complete or partial medullary cavities occlusion, with consequent reduced hemopoiesis, and for the excessive fragility of the affected bone segments.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reported the case of a young man of 31 years affected by osteopetrosis in which a small cell lung cancer developed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Small cell lung cancer is a particularly rare neoplasm in the young, and even though it is highly sensitive to chemotherapeutic treatment its prognosis remains poor. The greatest clinical problem connected with chemotherapeutic treatment of patients affected by osteopetrosis is the variability of the reduction of their bone marrow reserve, which could expose them to an excessive hematological toxicity caused by the therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adoption of suitable prophylactic measures, such as the use of growth factors and drugs selected in relation to their toxicity or given in reduced doses, should be appropriately considered in these subjects.
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fadda
authors.forename: Davide Adriano
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Santeufemia
authors.forename: Paolo Cossu
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantino
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Maria Giuseppa
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sarobba
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Putzu
authors.forename: Maria Cossu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010022:Osteopetrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography