title: [Involvement of the lungs in neurofibromatosis].
abstract: Two patients, a 66-year-old man (case 1) and a 55-year-old woman (case 2), had been known (for 40 and 35 years, respectively) to have type 1 neurofibromatosis. Dyspnoea, recently even at rest, had developed in both over the past few years. Both were emaciated (weight 62 kg, height 180 cm; 42 kg, 166 cm, respectively). In both the chest radiography had net-like increased interstitial markings. Computed tomography in case 1 showed largely subpleural small-blister-like changes bilaterally (honeycomb lung), while there were large apical cysts bilaterally in case 2. Lung function tests demonstrated restrictive changes in case 1 (vital capacity 48% of norm, relative one-second capacity 88%) and severe ventilation abnormality in case 2 (vital capacity 42% of norm, relative one-second capacity 47%). Both had marked hypoxaemia even at rest and the walking limit was 200 m in case 1, 40 m in case 2. The pulmonary changes were most likely manifestations of the neurofibromatosis. Symptomatic treatment consisted of long-term oxygen therapy with a portable liquid oxygen system (flow rate: 1-2 l/min at rest and 3-5 l/min on exercise; duration: 24 h/d). This achieved a walking distance without hypoxaemia of 500 and 200 m, respectively, with marked improvement in the patients' condition.
authors.affiliation: I. Innere Abteilung, Urbankrankenhaus Berlin.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mitlehner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Federle
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Höhne
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Finck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001768:Blister / Q000473:pathology; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*
vernacular_title: Lungenbeteiligung bei Neurofibromatose.