title: A case of giant cell interstitial pneumonia.
abstract: This report is of a case of giant cell interstitial pneumonia (GIP) diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and treated effectively with corticosteroid. The patient was a 61-year-old man with cough, dyspnea and findings of diffuse reticular opacities on chest X-ray. In the microscopic section of a biopsied specimen, varied forms of giant cells were observed, some with a cannibalistic appearance. Numerous giant cells and some lymphocytes were also observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The possibility of measles pneumonia was ruled out by a negative serum antibody test and the absence of inclusion bodies in the giant cells. The patient had neither a past history of exposure to heavy metals nor to organic dusts. A distinct improvement was obtained with 30 mg of prednisolone administered daily for two weeks and then tapered off gradually.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Division, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kajiki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone