[A Rare Case of Extremely High Counts of EpCAM Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Tumor Microemboli Detected in a Patient with Small Cell Lung Cancer].

A 77-year-old man was admitted at our hospital due to "generalized increase in the number of masses and enlargement of the masses observed for one month". Combined assessment of the imaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) findings and results of lung centesis biopsy and liquid biopsy suggest that the patient had small cell lung cancer of the left upper lobe, with right hilar, mediastinal, bilateral axillary, abdominal and retroperitoneal lymph node metastases, as well as widespread subcutaneous soft tissue, liver, bilateral adrenal, bilateral kidneys and multiple brain metastases (extensive stage). In order to obtain an evaluation of the development of the disease as soon as possible, the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) in 6 mL peripheral blood were examined by subtraction enrichment-immunostaining fluorescence hybridization (SE-iFISH) technology.