Tuberc Respir Dis.  2000 Jun;48(6):980-985. 10.4046/trd.2000.48.6.980.

A Case of lymphangitic carcinomatosis of lung presented as rapidly exacerbating reticulonodular infiltrates

• Jung J
• Jang JS
• Joo HJ
• Lee SH
• Yeo DS
• Hyun DS
• Choi YM
• Kim SC
• Lee SY
• Moon HS
• Song JS
• Park SH

• KMID: 2160249
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2000.48.6.980

Abstract

A 52-year-old woman was presented with 2-week history of increasing dyspnea and dry cough. The chest radiograph revealed bilateral reticular infiltrates. Radiographic infiltrates were rapidly progressed and symptoms from hypoxemia were aggravated. The patient was intubated and bronchoscopy with transbronchial lung biopsies was performed. Biopsies revealed lymphatic vessels plugged by nests of metastatic adenocarcinoma. She died 11 days after admission despite of intensive ventilatory support. We had difficulties in the diagnosis of lymphangitic lung carcinomatosis at initial presentation of her illness because the progression was unusually rapid. Lymphangitic lung carcinomatosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients showing rapidly progressive interstitial radiographic findings. Also, transbronchial lung biopsy may be a useful tool to confirm the diagnosis.

Keyword

Lymphangitic carcinomatosis; Pulmonary metastasis; Transbronchial lung biopsy

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Anoxia
Biopsy
Bronchoscopy
Carcinoma*
Cough
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Dyspnea
Female
Humans
Lung*
Lymphatic Vessels
Middle Aged
Radiography, Thoracic