A 69-year-old man presents to clinic due to shortness of breath, worsening pain in his right shoulder, and episodes of hemoptysis. His symptoms began 3 months ago. He has also lost 18 pounds. He has a history of coronary artery disease and underwent an uncomplicated coronary angioplasty with stent placement 2 years ago. He routinely travels both domestically and internationally as a senior shipyard worker and has a 30-pack-year smoking history. He used to drink 4 cocktails a week. He has not smoke or drank alcohol in over 7 years. His temperature is 99.5°F (37.7°C), blood pressure is 140/60 mmHg, pulse is 97/min, and respirations are 13/min. Physical exam is notable for right pupillary constriction as well as paresthesias in his right fourth and fifth digits. There is no pain with active shoulder rotation. His chest imaging is shown in Figure A. Which of the following is most likely responsible for the patient’s symptoms?
Lung adenocarcinoma
Mesothelioma
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Tuberculosis
Lung adenocarcinoma
This elderly patient with an extensive smoking history is presenting with hemoptysis, weight loss, and shortness of breath. Combined with neurological findings in the ulnar nerve distribution (paresthesias in fourth and fifth digits) and imaging evidence of a superior right lung mass, the most likely diagnosis is a Pancoast tumor, which is most commonly a lung adenocarcinoma.

A Pancoast tumor is a peripheral lung cancer often caused by lung adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma and is often located in the superior sulcus of the lung. The most important risk factor is smoking. This tumor causes compression of adjacent structures. Patients can present with severe, localized axilla pain (due to invasion of the brachial plexus), weakness of intrinsic hand muscles with radicular pain and paresthesias in the fourth and fifth digits (due to invasion of the C8-T1 portion of the brachial plexus), Horner syndrome (miosis, ptosis, and facial anhidrosis due to invasion of the cervical sympathetic nerves), hoarseness (due to invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve), and edema of the arm with facial swelling (due to compression of the superior vena cava). Treatment is varied and involves a combination of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.

Wu et al. studied the role of the tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, osimertinib, in the treatment of completed resected epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NCSLC). The authors find that 89% of patients in the osimertinib group and 52% of the placebo groups were alive and disease free at 24 months. The authors recommend the use of osimertinib in patients with stage IB to IIIA EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

Figure/Illustration A demonstrates a right apical lung mass found on computed tomography (CT) scan (green arrow).

Incorrect Answers:
Answer B: Mesothelioma is a neoplasm of the pleura found in people with occupational exposures to asbestos, such as shipyard workers. While this neoplasm can present with hemoptysis and dyspnea, chest imaging of mesothelioma reveals pleural plaques and thickening, not an isolated apical lung lesion.

Answer C: Rotator cuff tendinopathy presents with pain with abduction and external rotation of the arm. This patient has no pain with active shoulder rotation.

Answer D: Syringomyelia is a cyst or cavity in the spinal column that can cause Horner syndrome and fluctuating radicular pain. It is unlikely to cause hemoptysis, weight loss, and the chest imaging findings in this patient.

Answer E: Tuberculosis is a possible diagnosis in this patient with hemoptysis, weight loss, and extensive travel history. Tuberculosis often presents with a fever and does not usually cause shoulder pain.

Bullet Summary:
Pancoast tumor presents with shoulder pain, cervical radiculopathy, Horner syndrome, and hoarseness and should be suspected in a patient with a smoking history and an apical lung mass on imaging.