A Case of Diffuse Panbronchiolitis Complicated by Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma Not Otherwise Specified

Abstract

We report a case of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) complicated by peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified. A 40-year-old Chinese man presented with intermittent fever, cough and significant white sputum production for more than 9 years, in addition to dyspnea and chest congestion that worsened after exercise. A chest CT scan indicated diffuse centrilobular fine nodular opacities with a ‘tree-in-bud’ appearance in both lungs. An open-lung biopsy was performed, and DPB was diagnosed by histopathological analysis. Three months later, the patient’s pulmonary symptoms worsened. A chest CT of both lungs revealed multiple patchy opacities as well as enlargement of the hilar, mediastinal and multiple superficial lymph nodes. A whole-body bone scan revealed multiple osteolytic lesions located in the thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine. A biopsy of the right supraclavicular lymph node was performed, and peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified was diagnosed histopathologically. Cases of DPB complicated by non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are a rare occurrence. To our knowledge, there is only one earlier report of such a case in the literature (in Japanese). However, the prevalence of DPB complicated by T cell tumors is relatively high, indicating a possible association in pathogenesis of T cell disorders and DPB.