Expectoration of Bronchogenic Tumor Tissue

Abstract

BRONCHOGENIC carcinoma can present itself in a variety of ways. Some patients with this disease may have an abnormal chest roentgenogram but no symptoms. Others may have manifestations of metastatic disease. Although cough and hemoptysis are common, expectoration of tumor tissue as a part of the presenting complaint is extremely rare. Report of a Case A 78-year-old man came to the emergency room complaining of hemoptysis for the past 12 hours. Bleeding was initially brisk but had steadily decreased in amount. He had noted an irritative cough for about three months that did not respond to antibiotics, expectorants, or bronchodilators. The patient denied any acute dyspnea, sputum production, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, angina, ankle edema, pleuritic pain, bone pain, or weight loss. He had a myocardial infarction at 51 years of age. He was being treated for chronic atrial fibrillation, with digoxin, 0.25 mg daily. He worked 42 years in