title: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis: radiologic resolution following cessation of second hand smoking.
abstract: We present a 65-year-old male former smoker with past medical history of renal cell carcinoma. Surveillance chest CT scan showed numerous progressive bilateral upper lobe predominant nodular cystic densities. A Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery lung biopsy was diagnostic of Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. Further questioning of the patient revealed exposure to second hand smoke from his wife. A repeat chest CT scan 6 months following cessation of all smoking exposure showed near complete resolution of the nodular densities. Our case report highlights the importance of early identification of second hand smoke exposure. Timely elimination of the exposure led to near complete radiologic resolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo and Western New York Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Leith
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sawalha
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo and Western New York Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University at Buffalo and Western New York Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo and Western New York Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Martin Jeffery
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mador
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
keywords: Langerhans cell histiocytosis; radiologic resolution; second hand smoking; smoking cessation