Bronchorrhea, a Rare and Debilitating Symptom of Lung Cancer: Case Report and Review of the Treatment

Abstract

Bronchorrhea, defined as production of voluminous watery sputum greater than 100 mL/d, is a debilitating symptom mostly found in end-stage lung cancer, specifically in invasive mucinous adenocarcinomas. Very rarely, it can primarily contribute to hypoxic respiratory failure and found in a critical care setting. We report a case of a 51-year-old woman diagnosed with having mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung who presented to the intensive care unit with rapidly worsening respiratory failure and found to have massive bronchorrhea with daily sputum volume exceeding 1000 mL/d at its peak. With the limited quantity and quality of evidence available for the treatment of this condition, multiple agents were tried without considerable benefit. We discuss the pathogenesis of this condition and the different treatment options that can be used for palliation of the sputum volume.

Keywords

• Case report
• Bronchorrhea
• Lung cancer
• Invasive mucinous adenocarcinomas
• Respiratory failure
• EGFR inhibitors