Mediastinal squamous cell carcinoma

M.D. Vittorio Zocchi - Mediastinal squamous cell carcinoma: a Case Report

Centro di Riferimento Oncologico AvianoCentro di Riferimento Oncologico Aviano

Divisione di Oncologia Chirurgica

Aviano (Italy) 8 October 1997

We discharge patient Mrs. G.M. (she was born in 1950), admitted to our institute in the light of radiological evidence (Radiography and CT scan) of an expansive process of the anterior mediastinal cavity with multiple multiple diaphragmatic thickening of the pleura, costal-parietal and mediastinum and in absence of other pathological clinical data and biohumoral examinations.

Figure 1: Aviano (Italy) 8 October 1997

Figure1

Further assessments performed (Mammography, bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy, thyroid ultrasound, Bone scintigraphy) were negative. The needle biopsy of the mediastin lesion under CT scan guidance, confirmed the presence of a neoplastic carcinoma lesion little differentiated with possible squamous cell differentiation (Figure1 and Figure 2).

Figure 2: Left side pleural diaphragmatic lesion

"SPEDALI RIUNITI DI SANTA MARIA MADDALENA", VOLTERRA (PISA) - ITALY

4 September 1997

Figure2

The current extension of the disease at the left side of the hemithorax contraindicates a thoracotomy feasible after the chemotherapy cycle with possible favourable response, as reccomended by the Colleague Medical Oncologist.

Chief physician C.R.

Summary

She started the chemotherapy in December 1997 but, given the toxic effects and the poor results obtained (disease progression) she interrupted it and the day 3 March 1998 she began the therapy with the The Di Bella Method (Octreotide 1mg per day and so on). Over the following years, spent with an excellent quality of life,the CT scans, performed every 8 months or so, documented a stability of the disease.

Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana

Report 13 August 2003

Examination compared with an earlier one, 22 May 2003. It documents a very slight improvement of the lung framework in the sense of a modest volume reduction of the well known lesions at the left side of the pleura. Modestly reduced the lymph nodes in the aortopulmonary area and in the para-aortic region. No pleuric efussion. No focality in the liver area. Up to standard the kidneys, the adrenal glands, the spleen and the pancreas.

The clinical picture and the quality of life of the patient still demonstrates a stabilization of the disease with over 6 years of survival.

Translated by: Alina Mina Leonard