Abstract
HISTORY
A 24-year-old man presented with recurrent hemoptysis and decreased exercise capacity. DIAGNOSTIC FINDINGS: The chest radiograph demonstrated multiple disseminated pulmonary nodules. In addition the patient developed a hematopericardium with tamponade. The further diagnostic approach revealed an extensive thoracic angiomatosis affecting the lung and the heart.
TREATMENT AND COURSE
Tumor resection could not be performed. A therapy with Interferon alpha-2a was initiated. After 3 month a significant regression of the pulmonary angiomatosis was documented. On the other hand the cardiac tumor showed no therapeutic response.
CONCLUSION
Thoracic angiomatosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of otherwise unclear hemoptysis or hematopericardium. Diagnosis intra vitamin requires an aggressive and invasive approach. Interferon alpha-2a is effective in palliative treatment of diffuse angiomatous diseases. But not all angiomatous processes respond to that therapy.
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