Lymphangioleiomyomatosis associated with pulmonary metastasis from an occult papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: report of a case occurring in a patient without tuberous sclerosis

Pathol Res Pract. 2002;198(12):825-8. doi: 10.1078/0344-0338-00342.

Abstract

We report on 50-year-old woman without tuberous sclerosis, presenting with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. A CT-scan of the chest showed multiple, bilateral, thin-walled cysts, consistent with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis. A videothoracoscopic lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis, but revealed also a micrometastasis from an occult papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. The main histologic differential diagnosis and the possible correlation between lymphangioleiomyomatosis and thyroid diseases are briefly discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*