Asymptomatic lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Large cyst mimicking a hydropneumothorax in a healthy patient

Caterina Benedetto; Ugo Barbaro; Carmelo Anfuso; Annalisa Militi; Rosa Morabito; Claudio Ruvolo; Francesco Monaco

doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2021.03.004

Asymptomatic lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Large cyst mimicking a hydropneumothorax in a healthy patient

Radiol Case Rep. 2021 Apr 2;16(6):1325-1328. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.03.004. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Authors

Caterina Benedetto¹, Ugo Barbaro¹, Carmelo Anfuso¹, Annalisa Militi¹, Rosa Morabito¹, Claudio Ruvolo¹, Francesco Monaco²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, I.R.C.C.S. Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo P.O Piemonte, Viale Europa 45, 98124 Messina, Italy.
² Thoracic Surgery Unit, Policlinico G. Martino, Hospital of the University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.

Abstract

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, idiopathic, cystic disease that affects lungs of young women at childbearing age. Usually, LAM clinical manifestations are pneumothorax, progressive dyspnea and chylous pleural effusions. In many cases, due to unusual and nonspecific symptoms, LAM is mis-recognized and patients, who are affected by such disease, receive delayed diagnosis. This case report focuses on a 45-year-old woman patient with asymptomatic lymphangioleiomyomatosis who presented a big cyst which makes it looks like hydropneumothorax condition. Although chest radiograph and following CT scan has given an incidental diagnosis of right hydropneumothorax, treatment with drainages and video-assisted thorascopic surgery, instead, has allowed us to formulate correct diagnosis of cysts in LAM.

Keywords: Chest X-ray; Computed tomography scan (CT scan); Cyst; Hydropneumothorax; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis; Video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS).

Publication types

Case Reports