A case of primary nodular pulmonary amyloidosis

• Published in: Nihon Kokyuki Geka Gakkai zasshi (Kyoto, 1992) Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 34 - 39
• Main Authors: Higuchi, Mitsunori, Gunji, Takashi, Suzuki, Hiroyuki, Kushida, Masao, Yanai, Koichi, Kanno, Ryuzo, Ohishi, Akio, Usuba, Akira, Inoue, Hitoshi, Motoki, Ryoichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japanese Association for Chest Surgery 1997
• Subjects: AA amyloid; nodular pulmonary amyloidosis; primary pulmonary amyloidosis
• ISSN: 0919-0945; 1881-4158
• DOI: 10.2995/jacsurg.11.34

A 48-year-old male with primary nodular pulmonary amyloidosis, which was detected in a group screening chest X-ray film is reported. His chest X-ray and CT scan showed multiple nodular shadows (220 mm) with calcification in bilateral lung fields. Before surgery we could not diagnose the tumor definitely despite full studies including bronchoscopic cytology, and therefore the largest tumor in left S9 (20 × 18 × 15 mm) was resected by thoracoscopic surgery. Microscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis of type AA amyloidosis. Postoperative examination revealed no amyloid deposit in other organs, so the diagnosis was primary nodular pulmonary amyloidosis. The patient has been well without any symptoms for 16 months after his discharge from hospital. Preoperative diagnosis of primary nodular pulmonary amyloidosis is difficult but thoracoscopic surgery is very useful for differential diagnosis from lung cancer and for definite diagnosis. Longer follow-up is needed because type AA amyloidosis is associated with complications such as connective tissue diseases, primary macroglobulinemia and malignant lymphoma.