[Chronic cough and pulmonary infiltration].
METHODS
A 56-year-old man complain of chronic cough for 6 months without further clinical problems. The patient was otherwise in good health and showed only a moderate bronchial sound at the left ventral paracordial region.


METHODS
Thorax X-ray revealed an infiltrate in the lingula with segmental borders. The CT scan showed air bronchogramms and bilateral more small infiltrates. DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, CLINICAL COURSE: Bronchoscopic transbronchial biopsies revealed a BALT-lymphoma. A seven years old chest X-ray showed the lingual infiltrate in nearly the same extension as the current X-ray. Because of the disseminated manifestation, the slow course and the good performance status we did not start a palliative chemotherapy so far.


CONCLUSIONS
Any pulmonary infiltrate which looks like pneumonia must be given a definite diagnosis if there are no clinical signs of infection.
Schaberg
T
T
Zentrum für Pneumologie, Diakoniekrankenhaus Rotenburg. schaberg@diako-online.de
Amthor
M
M
D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed