title: Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in an autistic child who has never smoked.
abstract: Primary bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung is extremely rare in childhood, particularly the squamous cell type. Only 13 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma in an autistic, 16-year-old boy who presented with a productive cough. Interestingly, he was a never-smoker, but had been exposed to environmental tobacco smoking by his father for 13 years. The diagnosis was delayed by approximately 1 month due to his young age. He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and chemotherapy was arranged. Considering his age, autism, and good performance status, a combined chemotherapeutic regimen with gemcitabine plus carboplatin was planned. After the second cycle of chemotherapy, the cough resolved and a computed tomography scan showed a partial response of the central conglomerated mass with the absence of the malignant pleural effusion.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyun Soo
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Jae Jin
authors: JJ
authors: Lee
authors: Ah Rang
authors: AR
authors: Cho
authors: Dae Hyun
authors: DH
authors: Kim
authors: Cheon Woong
authors: CW
authors: Choi