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

Jung, Jung; Jang, Jae Soon; Joo, Hyun Jung; Lee, Sang Haak; Yeo, Dong Seung; Hyun, Dae Seong; Choi, Young Mee; Kim, Seok Chan; Lee, Sook Young; Moon, Hwa Sik; Song, Jeong Sup; Park, Sung Hak

doi:2000.48.6.980

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 48(6); 2000 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2000;48(6):980-985.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2000.48.6.980 Published online June 1, 2000.

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

Jung Jung, Jae Soon Jang, Hyun Jung Joo, Sang Haak Lee, Dong Seung Yeo, Dae Seong Hyun, Young Mee Choi, Seok Chan Kim, Sook Young Lee, Hwa Sik Moon, Jeong Sup Song, Sung Hak Park

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.

Key Words: Lymphangitic carcinomatosis, Pulmonary metastasis, Transbronchial lung biopsy