Perforation of small intestine due to metastatic lung carcinoma

Description 

A 66-year-old woman with a history of 40 pack-year cigarette smoking and type II diabetes mellitus presented to the emergency department with unexplained weight loss and cough for a few weeks. These complaints constituted her first clinical manifestation. Physical examination was notable for diffuse abdominal tenderness. Chest and abdominal films (figure 1) revealed a prominent round opaque lesion in the right lung (arrow) and a large amount of free air under diaphragms with air-fluid levels.

Figure 1

Upright chest (left) and abdominal (right) films demonstrating round opaque lesion (arrow) and free air under diaphragms and levels of fluid in the stomach and intestine.

The patient underwent an urgent laparotomy for pneumoperitoneum. Perforation of the small intestine due to a malignant metastasis was detected. The patient underwent a wide resection of the small intestine with closed loop anastomosis. The biopsy specimen was consistent with...

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