title: A Rare Case of Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia.
abstract: Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare clinical condition with only about 100 cases reported in the literature. It is characterized by primary hyperplasia of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) which are specialized epithelial cells located throughout the entire respiratory tract, from the trachea to the terminal airways. DIPNECH appears in various forms that include diffuse proliferation of scattered neuroendocrine cells, small nodules, or a linear proliferation. It is usually seen in middle-aged, nonsmoking women with symptoms of cough, dyspnea, and wheezing. We present a 45-year-old, nonsmoking woman who presented with symptoms of DIPNECH associated with bilateral pulmonary nodules and left hilar adenopathy. Of interest, DIPNECH in our patient was associated with metastatic pulmonary carcinoids, papillary carcinoma of the left breast, oncocytoma and angiomyolipoma of her left kidney, and cortical nodules suggestive of tuberous sclerosis. She had video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), modified radical mastectomy with reconstruction, and radical nephrectomy. She is currently symptom-free most of the time with over two years of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital, New York, NY 10037, USA.
authors.forename: Godwin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ofikwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Vishnu R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital, New York, NY 10037, USA.
authors.forename: Ajai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajabalan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital, New York, NY 10037, USA.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital, New York, NY 10037, USA.
authors.forename: Leaque
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Harlem Hospital Center, New York, NY 10037, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vega