Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
We describe a 67-year-old white woman with a long-standing active rheumatoid arthritis who refused treatment. Chest roentgenograms performed in 2000 revealed a pulmonary nodule in the mid-left lung. Progression of the nodule was followed annually by computerized tomography (CT). In the last CT in 2002, we observed multiple nodules in both lungs in the absence of lymph gland involvement. The patient was operated by video-thoracoscopy to resect one of the pulmonary nodules. Pathological examination of the excised tissue revealed amyloid A-type (AA) amyloidosis. Although pulmonary amyloidosis is rare in patients with systemic AA amyloidosis, we recommend that this possibility be considered when confronted with a patient with these characteristics.
Calatayud
J
J
Thoracic Surgery Unit, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
Candelas
G
G
Gómez
A
A
Morado
C
C
Trancho
F Hernando
FH
D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000473:pathology; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome