Short Communication	Thorac cardiovasc Surg 2005; 53: 122-123 DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830443
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
The Importance of Histology in the Evaluation of Pulmonary Transplantation: Carcinomatous Lymphangitis
F. Regueiro1, P. Roche2, M. V. Regueiro3, R. Lozano1
1 Unit of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain 2 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain 3 U. S. P. Hospital „Santa Teresa“, A Coruña, Spain

Abstract

Pulmonary carcinomatous lymphangitis is a form of neoplastic metastatic spread to the lungs, which represents a poor prognosis for the patient. The physician may be confronted by a differential diagnosis with diffuse pulmonary interstitial affections requiring specific treatment, including lung transplantation. We present the case of a patient, diagnosed with pulmonary interstitial disease with rapidly progressive worsening of lung function, who was considered for lung transplantation. Videothoracoscopic lung biopsy demonstrated the existence of carcinomatous lymphangitis, which completely changed the therapeutic direction.

Key words

Lung transplantation - lung cancer - video-assisted thoracic surgery