Intrathoracic lymphadenopathy. A rare manifestation of rheumatoid pulmonary disease.
This is the first antemortem report of a patient with long-standing RA and interstitial lung disease who developed reactive mediastinal adenopathy coincident with increases in the activity of his interstitial process. Mediastinal adenopathy was discovered by means of CT of the chest as part of an evaluation of interstitial lung disease. The increasing use of better imaging techniques for this purpose will undoubtedly reveal more patients with this finding. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy complicating rheumatoid lung is clinically relevant; speculation is provided regarding the mechanism of the lymph node enlargement in this setting.
Martinez
F J
FJ
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Karlinsky
J B
JB
Gale
M E
ME
Jung-Legg
Y
Y
Benditt
J O
JO
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography