Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41310725›Full record

ReviewDiagnostic pathology2025

Aberrant TTF-1 expression in metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma mimicking primary lung cancer: a case report and review of diagnostic pitfalls.

Nhu Tung Tran, Nguyen Van Thai, Nguyen Thi Khuyen, Linh Thi Le, Lai The Anh Khoa

Abstract readCase ReportsReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diagnostic pathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Nhu Tung TranDepartment of Pathology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. tungtn1@tahospital.vn.
Nguyen Van ThaiDepartment of Pathology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Nguyen Thi KhuyenVietnam National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Linh Thi LeDepartment of Pathology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Lai The Anh KhoaDepartment of Radiology, An Binh Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

A 43-year-old man with sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma (low-grade, moderately) developed multiple pulmonary metastases, presenting an unusual immunohistochemical profile. Histologically, resected lung nodules showed metastatic adenocarcinoma consistent with colorectal origin, yet the tumor cells paradoxically expressed thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) - a marker typically specific to primary lung adenocarcinoma. Immunophenotyping demonstrated TTF-1 nuclear positivity in the metastatic tumor alongside a classic colorectal profile: cytokeratin 7 (CK7) negativity, cytokeratin 20 (CK20) positivity, strong caudal-type homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) and special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (SATB2) nuclear expression, and absence of Napsin A. The patient underwent surgical resection of the primary sigmoid colon tumor and received 16 cycles of capecitabine plus bevacizumab chemotherapy. Molecular testing revealed a KRAS c.35G > T (p.G12V) mutation in the tumor. This case highlights a potential diagnostic pitfall in metastatic colorectal cancer: aberrant TTF-1 expression can mimic a primary lung tumor. We discuss how the comprehensive immunohistochemical panel and genetic findings confirmed the colorectal origin of the lung lesions, emphasizing that combined marker profiles (TTF-1 +/CK7 -/CK20 +/CDX2 +/SATB2 +/Napsin A -) are more consistent with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma rather than an enteric-type adenocarcinoma of the lung, primary. The report reviews relevant literature and underscores the importance of correlating clinical history with pathology to avoid misdiagnosis.

Indexed as

AdenocarcinomaColorectal NeoplasmsLung NeoplasmsSigmoid NeoplasmsAdultBiomarkers, TumorDiagnosis, DifferentialHumansImmunohistochemistryMaleThyroid Nuclear Factor 1Transcription FactorsBiomarkers, TumorNKX2-1 protein, humanThyroid Nuclear Factor 1Transcription Factors

Identifiers

PMID41310725
PMCPMC12764080

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.