Journal of Lung Diseases & Treatment

Lung cancer continues to be the number one cancer killer among men and women in the United States. Smoking stands as the primary risk factor for developing lung cancer. Consequently, primary lung cancer may act differently in young adults than expected in older adults. Many young adults diagnosed with lung cancer are never smokers and otherwise healthy. Genetic driver mutations are often found in these young adults and targeted therapy is initiated. We present a case of a 23-year-old intravenous drug user found to have advanced stage lung cancer during work up of an apparent empyema.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease that affects mucus and sweat producing cells involving multiple organs. CF is usually diagnosed in childhood; however, a considered number of adults are diagnosed every year. Atypical CF can be a milder form of the CF disorder, and individuals with atypical CF can remain undiagnosed for many years. Physicians should suspect of CF in adult individuals when these present recurrent pneumonia or bronchiectasis. Therefore, since early diagnosis of CF can avoid morbidities and unnecessary hospitalizations, the recognition of CF symptoms by clinicians is necessary to avoid late diagnosis.