[Successful treatment of non-small cell lung cancer by gefitinib in an elderly patient with poor performance status].
A 91-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. A chest radiograph and chest CT films revealed a large amount of pleural effusion in the right side pleural cavity. After serial thoracentesis, chest CT films showed a mass shadow in the right S(6). Adenocarcinoma cells were found in the pleural effusion, leading to a diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (stage IIIB). After administration of gefitinib, the mass shadow and pleural effusion reduced and her performance status improved. Gefitinib may be a well-tolerated therapeutic strategy in elderly and poor performance status patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Miyoshi
Seigo
S
Department of Integrated Medicine and Informatics, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine.
Hamada
Hironobu
H
Ito
Ryoji
R
Hamaguchi
Naohiko
N
Kadowaki
Toru
T
Higaki
Jitsuo
J
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077156:Gefitinib