Introduction:

Tumor infiltration of mediastinal vascular structures is a frequent complication in patients with pulmonary neoplasms. Due to the initial clinical variability in the presentation of oncologic disease, symptoms may simulate a decrease in pulmonary blood flow also caused by pulmonary thromboembolism.

Objective:

to describe a patient with a microcytic carcinoma of the lung who presented simulating a pulmonary thromboembolism.

Case presentation:

58-year-old male patient with a pathological history of arterial hypertension, presented with respiratory distress and sudden onset chest pain, moderate to severe hypoxemia with clear lung fields. He was stabilized in the intensive care unit and subsequent imaging examinations evidenced a large tumor mass in the mediastinum. Histological studies confirmed a microcytic carcinoma of the lung.

Conclusions:

small cell lung carcinoma with vascular involvement by pulmonary artery infiltration may mimic thromboembolic disease. Patients with oncologic disease may require care in an intensive care unit at some point during the course of the disease.

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