Spontaneous Resolution of a Pulmonary Cystic Amyloidosis Mass

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2022 Nov 29;9(11):003586. doi: 10.12890/2022_003586. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Introduction: Amyloidosis is a rare illness characterized by the deposition in organs of amyloid, which can be detected by histological staining. Amyloidosis restricted to the lower respiratory tract is unusual.

Results: We reported the case of a 68-year-old woman with no history of chronic diseasewho presented with dyspnoea on exertion, cough and fatigue. The physical examination was unremarkable. A CT scan showed a cystic mass with a thickened wall in the apical segment of the left lower lobe. A biopsy of the mass was performed, and histological and immunohistochemical study confirmed the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis. The patient's clinical and radiological symptoms spontaneously improved without treatment after 3 years.

Conclusion: Amyloid-related cystic lung disease is a rare presentation of amyloidosis in the thorax. More case reports are required to determine if such masses can resolve without treatment and whether amyloid-associated cystic lung disease actually exists.

Learning points: Dyspnoea and cough are a rare atypical presentation that can reveal pulmonary amyloidosis.A cystic lung mass should raise suspicion for pulmonary amyloidosis.Clinical symptoms and radiological findings of a cystic mass spontaneously resolved without treatment after 3 years in this patient with pulmonary amyloidosis.

Keywords: Amyloidosis; lung; pulmonary cystic mass.