Pulmonary Amyloidosis: A Diagnostic Challenge

• Main Author: Alves, Ana
• Publication Date: 2015
• Other Authors: Alfaro, Tiago M., Madama, Daniela, Freitas, Sara, Robalo-Cordeiro, Carlos, Gamboa, Fernanda
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/5948
• topic: Amyloidosis; Bronchiectasis; Lung Diseases; Sjögren’s Syndrome.; Amiloidose; Bronquiectasias; Doenças do Pulmão; Síndrome de Sjögren.

Amyloidosis is characterized by amyloid extracellular deposition in organs and tissues. Pulmonary involvement is a rare manifestation of the disease and it can be focal or as part of systemic amyloidosis. We report two cases. Case 1: 71 year-old female with bronchiectasis and Sjogren’s syndrome, who complained of anorexia, weight loss and a productive cough. The diagnostic study included a surgical lung biopsy and histological examination demonstrated pulmonary amyloidosis. Case 2: 83 year-old male patient, ex-smoker, asymptomatic,whose routine chest x-ray showed a nodular opacity in the right lung field. A transthoracic biopsy revealed an amyloid lung tumor. These cases illustrate a rare disease which in Case 1 also coexisted with Sjögren’s syndrome and bronchiectasis. The most important differential diagnosis is cancer and so a definitive diagnosis is essential, as amyloidosis is usually benign and indolent.