When chronic obstructive pulmonary disease meets small cell lung cancer: an unusual case report of rapid progression

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease and a risk factor for lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is a neuroendocrine tumor with a high degree of malignancy and an overall five-year survival rate of less than 7%. CASES PRESENTATION: Herein, we report the case of an 68-year-old male presented to the respiratory department with cough, sputum, and dyspnea. He was diagnosed as community acquired pneumonia and treated with intravenous anti-infection. Previous pulmonary function was definitively diagnosed as COPD. About 7 months after discharge, the patient returned to the hospital for cough and dyspnea. After diagnosis of the tumor, cisplatin, etoposide and durvalumab were administered. Finally the patient died of respiratory failure approximately 9 months after his diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: For COPD patients with immunocompromised manifestations, it is necessary to be alert to complications and shorten the follow-up interval of chest CT. COPD may accelerate the formation and progression of SCLC.