The Spectrum of Diffuse Pulmonary Infiltration in Malignant Disease

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

“…Furthermore, prior research in patients receiving HSCTs has found that the initial degree of thrombocytopenia does not correlate with the development of DAH. 2,6 Findings on pulmonary function tests in the setting of DAH are typically characterized by an increased diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide and decreased levels of exhaled nitric oxide. 1 The patients in our case series had normal findings on pulmonary function testing, but these tests were performed prior to the onset of clinical symptoms of DAH.…”

“…With the rapid progression and severity of DAH, patients are often unable to complete pulmonary function testing at the time of symptoms and diagnosis. 6 Findings on chest radiography may appear normal or may show nonspecific, diffuse opacities reflective of diffuse lung disease (Fig 1). 2 CT of the chest will characteristically show diffuse or patchy, bilateral ground-glass opacities, as were seen in all 5 of our case patients (Fig 2).…”

“…However, previous reports have attempted to define alveolar hemorrhage by the presence of at least 20% of siderophages on examination of BAL fluid samples to aid in the diagnosis when BAL findings are equivocal. 6 …”