A rare case of long‐term survival from metachronous bilateral adrenal metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma after combined surgical removal and immunochemotherapy

Abstract

Introduction The prognosis of adrenal metastasis from non‐small cell lung cancer is very poor. A recent report described the efficacy of the surgical removal of adrenal metastasis when solitary. However, metachronous bilateral adrenal metastasis is extremely rare, and a treatment strategy has not been established. Case presentation Herein, we describe a 52‐year‐old Asian male who presented with a right adrenal metastasis of non‐small cell lung cancer 8 months after immunochemotherapy and surgical resection of the lung. He underwent combined systemic treatment and a laparoscopic right adrenalectomy; however, after 9 months, a metachronous left adrenal metastasis emerged. A subsequent laparoscopic left adrenalectomy and systemic treatment led to long‐term progression‐free survival. Conclusion The appropriate surgical indication and combined systemic treatment of a metachronous bilateral adrenal metastasis in non‐small cell lung cancer may extend the prognosis.

Keywords

• adrenalectomy
• long‐term survival
• lung adenocarcinoma
• metachronous bilateral adrenal metastasis