Successful pulmonary arterial embolization followed by curative surgery for a lepidic predominant lung adenocarcinoma with severe hypoxemia

Background Lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma is characterized by frequent refractory hypoxemia due to intrapulmonary shunting. Severe hypoxemia can induce perioperative complications in case of thoracic surgery. Case presentation We report a case of a 67 year-old woman with localized lepidic adenocarcinoma in the right lower lobe with severe hypoxemia. A selective arterial lung embolization allowed an instantaneous correction of the hypoxemia, and a curative lobectomy was safely performed 1 week after without any complication. The staging was pT3N0M0, and the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions This is the first case-report of successful endovascular embolization before curative surgery for a lepidic predominant lung adenocarcinoma.