Lung Cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) in Adolescence

Abstract

Primary lung cancer is rare in childhood. An asymptomatic 15-year-old boy was found to have a solitary circular shadow by a mass chest photofluorographic survey. The clinical course strongly suggested malignant tumor. Lobectomy three months after the detection of the shadow showed squamous cell carcinoma. At present, 3\m=1/2\years after surgery, the patient is healthy and attending school. Cases of primary lung cancer in childhood are reviewed.While the frequency of primary carcinoma of the lung has re¬ cently increased remarkably in adults, it is rare in childhood. Here we report a case of lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) found in a 15-year-old boy by a mass chest photofluorographic survey.The patient, a boy 15 years and 7 months of age, was a pupil of the third grade in middle school. No history of familial dis¬ ease, including malignancy, was obtained. He had enjoyed good health. He had never smoked, and his environment had not been unusual.From a mass survey for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis on Jan 21, 1969, a photofluorogram of the chest showed ab¬ normal findings. Six days after the survey photofluoro¬ gram, at which time he had no complaints, a roentgenogram showed a solitary circu¬ lar shadow of homogeneous density 2.5 cm

Primary small cell bronchogenic carcinoma in a 14-year-old boy

“…2 In 1974, Niitu et al 5 reviewed 39 cases of primary lung tumors in chilAbbreviations AFB Acid-fast bacilli BAL Bronchoalveolar lavage CT Computed tomography NSE Neuron-specific enolase PPD Purified protein derivative SCBC Small cell bronchogenic carcinoma dren younger than 16 years of age and found that bronchogenic carcinoma accounted for 17 cases, including 12 cases of adenocarcinoma and 5 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. In 1983, Hartman and Shochat 3 reviewed 230 cases of primary lung tumors in children under 16 years of age.…”

Lung Cancer in a Child with a Substantial Family History of Cancer

“…On the other hand, in children, it is reported that squamous cell carcinomas is 21 %, adenocarcinomas 32 %, and undifferentiated carcinomas 28 % (11). In the study for child lung cancer in foreign countries, squamous cell carcinoma account 10 %, and adenocarcinoma is 28 %, and undifferentiated carcinoma account 45 % (12). It is thus likely that squamous cell carcinoma is less frequently found in children than in adults.…”

Primary pulmonary tumors in childhood: A review of 31 years' experience and the literature

“…A rate of 20% for squamous carcinoma has been reported in Japan and 10% in other countries. 52 They concede that bronchogenic squamous carcinoma could possibly occur in children less than 12 years of age and appeal for such tumors to be studied with great care before being validated as such. In one case of childhood pleural mesothelioma prenatal exposure to isoniazid has occurred.…”