title: [Erasmus' syndrome with pseudo-tumour masses].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erasmus' syndrome involves the association of systemic scleroderma (SS) and exposure to silica. Silicosis may precede the SS but the latter may be the presentation, in which case a history of exposure to silica should be sought as part of the diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 46-year-old man with history of pulmonary tuberculosis presented with dyspnoea and dysphagea. Clinical examination revealed thickening of the facial skin with a pointed nose, erythema and telangiectasia, Raynaud's syndrome and sclerodactyly. A thoracic CT scan revealed bilateral, fibrotic, pseudo-tumoural masses. Antinuclear antibodies, anti-topoisomerase 1 and antihistone were positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical presentation of Erasmus' syndrome associating systemic scleroderma and pulmonary pseudo-tumours may pose a problem of differential diagnosis from lung cancer. This condition requires regular clinical and radiological monitoring, particularly as both scleroderma and silicosis increase the risk of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie, pavillon 2, hôpital A.-Mami, 2080 Ariana, Tunisie. besnawel@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaouch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mjid
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarrouk
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Rouhou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ammous
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hantous
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Racil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chabbou
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000276:immunology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012830:Silicotuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001324:Autoantigens; D006657:Histones; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; C528909:TOP1 protein, human