A Case of Behcet's Disease with Multiple Cavitary Lung Lesion.

Yoon, Se Hee; Son, Ji Woong; Joung, Chung Il; Choi, Eu Gene

doi:2006.61.1.65

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 61(1); 2006 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2006;61(1):65-69.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2006.61.1.65 Published online July 1, 2006.

A Case of Behcet's Disease with Multiple Cavitary Lung Lesion.

Se Hee Yoon, Ji Woong Son, Chung Il Joung, Eu Gene Choi

Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. eugene@kyuh.co.kr

Abstract

Behcet's disease is a systemic vasculitis of an unknown etiology involving the arteries and veins of all sizes. There are reports showing that a pulmonary artery aneurysm or thromboembolism and superior vena cava thrombosis are present in 5-10% of patients with Behcet's disease and that lung parenchymal lesions are mainly airway consolidations resulting from hemorrhage or infarction. We encountered a patient with increasing pulmonary cavitary changes and localized aspergilloma. The patient was a 43-year-old man diagnosed with Behcet's disease with a history of recurrent oro-genital ulceration and uveitis, and who was administered methotrexate, colchicines, prednisolone. During the follow up he developed progressive dyspnea upon exertion and finger clubbing. Therefore further evaluations were performed. Chest computed tomography showed more advanced consolidations and cavitations than the previous film with the previously known aspergilloma still observable. An open lung biopsy was carried out to determine the presence of malignant changes, which revealed nonspecific vasculitis. Azathioprine was added resultion in an improvement of symptoms.

Key Words: Behcet's disease, Cavitary lung lesion, Aspergilloma