title: Endobronchial deposits of chronic lymphocytic leukemia - an unusual cause of central airway obstruction.
abstract: A 66-year-old woman with a background of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was admitted to the hospital on several occasions with recurrent episodes of community-acquired pneumonia. Computed tomography and bronchoscopy revealed multiple obstructing endobronchial polyps. Post-obstructive pneumonia together with immunoglobulin G deficiency was considered the most likely cause of these recurrent infections. Bronchoscopy was performed for removal of the critically obstructing lesions. Histopathology revealed replacement of bronchial mucosa with CLL deposits. Despite a brief window of infection-free survival following therapy, she remained susceptible to pneumonia with further hospital admissions and eventually died from her disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Liverpool Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maw
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Liverpool Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Liverpool Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Zinta
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Liverpool Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baraket
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Pathology, Liverpool Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Renn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Liverpool Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williamson
keywords: Bronchoscopy; central airway obstruction; chronic lymphocytic leukemia; endobronchial deposits