Lung squamous cell carcinoma presenting as rare clustered cystic lesions:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death.Early diagnosis is critical to improving a patient’s chance of survival.However,lung cancer associated with cystic airspaces is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed due to the absence of clinical symptoms,poor imaging specificity,and high risk of biopsy-related complications.CASE SUMMARY We report an unusual case of cancer in a 55-year-old man,in which the lesion evolved from a small solitary thin-walled cyst to lung squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)with metastases in both lungs.The SCC manifested as rare clustered cystic lesions,detected on chest computed tomography.There were air-fluid levels,compartments,and bronchial arteries in the cystic lesions.Additionally,there was no clear extrathoracic metastasis.After chemotherapy,the patient achieved a partial response,type I respiratory failure was relieved,and the lung lesions became a clustered thin-walled cyst.CONCLUSION Pulmonary cystic lesions require regular imaging follow-up.Lung SCC should be a diagnostic consideration in cases of thin-walled cysts as well as multiple clustered cystic lesions.