[A Case of Pleural Empyema with Fistula Caused by Endobronchial Metastasis of Renal Cell Carcinoma].

ABSTRACT

A 52-year-old man complained of asymptomatic gross hematuria and cough. Chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a right renal tumor, mediastinal lymph node metastasis, and right endobronchial metastasis. The right endobronchial metastasis was causing obstructive atelectasis in the lower lobe of the right lung. After tumor biopsy, the pathological diagnosis was clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Combination immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab was initiated, but CT showed enlargement of the metastatic lesion and lung abscess after two courses of treatment. The therapy was then switched to axitinib. Six days after initiation of axitinib, the lung abscess perforated into the pleural cavity, which resulted in the formation of pleural empyema with fistula. Ten days after initiation of axitinib, obstruction of the bronchus was relieved due to shrinkage of the right endobronchial metastasis, which resulted in development of a pneumothorax. Placement of a thoracic drainage tube and administration of an antimicrobial agent improved the pneumothorax and inflammatory response, but the drainage tube could not be removed. Long-term insertion of the thoracic drainage tube considerably diminished the patient's quality of life, and after 4 months, he was transferred to another hospital to receive the best supportive care.