A case of Pulmonary Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy (PHO) associated with primary lung cancer and a high level of serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)

• Published in: The Journal of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 555 - 559
• Main Authors: Seki, Erina, Takahashi, Nobumasa, Ikeya, Tomohiko, Murai, Katsumi, Hoshi, Eishin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Association for Chest Surgery 15.05.2007
• Subjects: clubbed finger; pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO); vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
• ISSN: 0919-0945; 1881-4158
• DOI: 10.2995/jacsurg.21.555

A 76-year-old man with primary lung cancer was admitted to our hospital complaining of fever and bilateral knee joint pain. Chest X-ray and chest CT demonstrated a giant mass in the right upper lung field. Pulmonary Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy (PHO), associated with primary lung cancer, was diagnosed, based on the findings of clubbed fingers, periosteal formations in the lower limbs, and abnormal uptake on bone scintigraphy. Right upper lobectomy was performed, and diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was obtained. Postoperatively, symptoms rapidly improved, and the high level of serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) observed preoperatively decreased to the normal level. Bone scintigraphic findings became almost normal 1 month postoperatively. Immunohistochemical study of the tumor cells was positive for VEGF. VEGF might play a role in the pathogenesis of PHO with lung cancer.