title: Bilateral pneumothorax complicating cystic metastases of bronchial squamous cell carcinoma under erlotinib.
abstract: Cystic lung metastases are a rare presentation in non-small cell lung cancer and occurs mainly in squamous cell carcinoma. We present the case of a 57-year-old woman with a lung squamous cell carcinoma and cystic lung metastases, who developed bilateral metachronous pneumothorax while being administered erlotinib in third-line treatment. The apparition of a pneumothorax under chemotherapy is most often the result of tumor necrosis and formation of bronchopleural fistula. However, very few cases have been reported under targeted therapies, and to our knowledge this is the first case under erlotinib. This complication is potentially life-threatening, especially due to the possibility of pneumothorax bilateralization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology and Thoracic Oncology, Ambroise Paré Hospital - APHP, Versailles - Saint Quentin en Yvelines University, Boulogne-Billancourt, France. etienne.giroux-leprieur@apr.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giroux Leprieur
authors.forename: Coraline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dumenil
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Labrune
authors.forename: Violaine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giraud
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chinet
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride