A Case of Lung Adenocarcinoma Originating from an OldPosttraumatic Scar in a Young Patient

A relationship between lung scarring and cancer has been recognized for many decades but more evidence is needed to strengthenthis association. A 34-year-old nonsmoker male with a history of left lower lobe lung scar secondary to a pulmonary contusion froma motor vehicle accident in 2012 was admitted with shortness of breath and cough. A computed tomography (CT) angiography ofthe chest demonstrated bilateral pulmonary emboli, left lower lobe mass, left lung septal thickening, and mediastinallymphadenopathy. A CT-guided biopsy of the mass was performed, and pathology was consistent with lung adenocarcinoma.Staging work-up revealed a widely metastatic disease. The patient developed severe complications requiring hospitalization afterthefirst cycle of chemotherapy and subsequently passed away. Lung scar carcinoma originates around peripheral scars resultingfrom a variety of infections, injuries, and lung diseases. It has poor prognosis because it metastasizes from relatively smalllesions. Our case further endorses that lung scarring can potentially lead to the development of cancer. Furthermore, we want tohighlight the need to conduct studies to determine if monitoring this patient population with periodic imaging can have asurvival benefit