Pleural thickening in a construction worker: it is not always mesothelioma.
We describe the case of a 45-year-old man presenting with chest pain and pleural effusions. These symptoms were progressive over a period of three years, with pericardial involvement and respiratory insufficiency finally resulting in death. Despite repeated diagnostic procedures, a final diagnosis could only be made at autopsy. Multisystem foamy histiocyte infiltration suggested the diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
M D
MD
Saboerali
M G J
MG
Koolen
L A
LA
Noorduyn
O M
OM
van Delden
H J
HJ
Bogaard
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D031249:Erdheim-Chester Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed