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Cystic lung disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in a male patient
  1. Ashish Kumar Prakash,
  2. Siddharth Chatterjee,
  3. Bornali Datta and
  4. Anand Jaiswal
  1. Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Medanta–The Medicity, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
  1. Correspondence to Dr Ashish Kumar Prakash; akp_vpci{at}yahoo.com

Abstract

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is characterised by the proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle cells (LAM cells) in the lungs, lymph nodes and other organs. We report the case of a man in his 50s who had right-sided pleural effusion. On performing a diagnostic tap, the fluid was milky white in colour. An intercostal chest tube was inserted and after complete drainage of fluid, a high-resolution CT (HRCT) was done. HRCT revealed multiple cysts throughout both of the lungs. On subsequent bronchoscopy-guided transbronchial lung biopsy and histochemical staining, diagnosis of LAM was made. We started the patient on oral sirolimus. On subsequent follow-up, subjective and objective improvements were observed.

  • Respiratory system
  • Radiology
  • Interstitial lung disease

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Footnotes

  • Contributors AKP and SC were fully involved in writing the paper and collecting data. AJ and BD have contributed in paper writing.

  • 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.

  • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.