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Abstract
A 42-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was referred to the respiratory team due to shortness of breath on exertion and significant deterioration in pulmonary function tests. Her symptoms were progressively getting worse. This prompted a referral to the specialist team where further investigations were undertaken including a high-resolution CT scan followed by lung biopsy, which eventually revealed a diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Successful referral to the National LAM Centre in Nottingham provided the key therapeutic approach required to manage this rare condition. Diagnosing this rare condition was due to the multidisciplinary team approach, which involved input from the general practitioner, radiologist and respiratory consultant. The patient has been making good progress with pharmacological management.
- respiratory medicine
- tobacco-related disease
- pulmonary emphysema
- pneumothorax
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Footnotes
Contributors MO and RK both contributed equally to this paper and are therefore joint first authors. MO consented the patient, gathered patient’s perspective (included in the report) and contributed equally to the writing of the report with RK. RK provided the investigations, scans (figures) and management details for the patient, she also contributed equally to the writing of the report with MO. NA was the patient’s respiratory physician who collaborated with the patient’s general practitioner and the consultant radiologist to provide his and their perspectives, which are included in the report.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.