Very young patient with peculiar squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

A 20-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is described. Hi stology of the open lung biopsy specimen revealed squamous cell carcinoma w ith definite keratinization. Interestingly, the tumor cells were characteri zed by partial expression of CD34 antigen and neuroendocrine differentiatio n. The diagnosis was delayed in this case because of his young age, This de layed diagnosis resulted in rapid progression and short survival time. In o ur review of 667 cases of lung cancers at Okayama University Hospital, only 3 (0.4%) of them were under 30 years of age and also showed advanced stage and very poor prognosis. It is important to take note of lung cancer as a differential diagnosis to detect early-stage lung cancer in young patients when they present with abnormal shadow on chest radiograph.