title: [Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: an often fortuitous diagnosis. A case report].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is an uncommon disorder of unknown origin, which exclusively occurs in women of reproductive age. The condition is characterized by proliferation of immature smooth muscle cells throughout the lungs, i.e., in the peribronchial, perilymphatic, and perivascular areas. This results in obliteration of the respiratory tract and in the development of cysts. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis has a poor prognosis due to both numerous lung complications and progression of the disease to respiratory failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a patient in whom lymphangioleiomyomatosis was fortuitously diagnosed from chest CT scan, itself performed for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. This case is therefore of particular interest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the prevalence of lymphangioleiomyomatosis is probably underestimated due to its clinical latency and the absence of specific laboratory tests. Therefore, the development of non-invasive radiological methods should permit early diagnosis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine interne, CHU, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cailleux
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janvresse
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lévesque
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Courtois
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018192:Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed