Organizing pneumonia in ALK+ lung adenocarcinoma treated with ceritinib: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors have been approved for patients with ALK-rearrangement lung cancer. The effect is superior to the standard first-line therapy of pemetrexed plus platinum-based chemotherapy. However, ALK inhibitors are associated with rare and sometimes fatal adverse events. Organizing pneumonitis (OP) is a rare and serious adverse event usually caused by ceritinib, and it is easily misdiagnosed as infectious pneumonia, metastasis, or cancer progression.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 56-year-old female presented with chest tightness and dyspnea for more than 10 days. She was previously healthy with no significant medical history. Workup including chest computed tomography (CT), pathological examination of a biopsy specimen, and next-generation sequencing was consistent with a diagnosis of IVA ALK-rearrangement lung adenocarcinoma. She was treated with pemetrexed plus platinum-based chemotherapy and crizotinib concurrently, followed by maintenance therapy with crizotinib alone and she had an almost complete response. However, about 26 months after beginning treatment she developed multiple brain metastases. Crizotinib was discontinued and she was begun on ceritinib. After about 3 months the brain metastases had almost complete response. After 5 months of ceritinib, however, multiple patchy lesions appeared in the bilateral upper lungs.

DIAGNOSES

Treatment with antibiotics had no effect and blood and sputum cultures are negative. A CT-guided biopsy of the upper lung was performed, and pathological hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical studies were consistent with OP.

INTERVENTIONS

Ceritinib was discontinued, she was begun on prednisone 0.5 mg/kg orally every day, and regular follow-up is necessary.

OUTCOMES

CT of the chest 2 and 4 weeks after beginning prednisone showed the lung lesions to be gradually resolving, and she was continued on prednisone for 2 months and gradually reduced the dose of prednisone every 2 weeks. No related adverse events were occurred in patient.

LESSONS

OP must be differentiated from infectious pneumonia, metastasis, or cancer progression. The mechanism of OP is still unknown and needs further research. Biopsy plays a role in making a diagnosis of OP. In our patient, discontinuing ceritinib and treating her with prednisone resulted in a good outcome.

A 69-Year-Old Woman With Ulcerative Colitis and Pulmonary Nodules

CASE PRESENTATION

A 69-year-old woman with a medical history significant for COPD, ulcerative colitis (UC), and tobacco dependence was referred to a pulmonologist for lung nodules found on routine annual low-dose CT scan for lung cancer screening. Her review of systems was negative for dyspnea, angina, hemoptysis, fever, night sweats, anorexia, and weight loss. She had a successful total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis performed 5 years ago because of acute fulminant UC refractory to corticosteroids and biologic agents. Her home medications were albuterol inhaler, umeclidinium, and vilanterol inhalation powder. She denied any history of lung cancers in her family. She was an active smoker and had a 35-pack-year smoking history. She worked as a cashier in a local supermarket and had been doing so for the past 25 years.

A Cryptogenic Case of Fulminant Fibrosing Organizing Pneumonia

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) generally responds well to corticosteroids with a favorable outcome. Rare cases of organizing pneumonia are rapidly progressive. Yousem et al. studied pathologic predictors of idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia/COP with an unfavorable prognosis. Beardsley and Rassl proposed the name fibrosing organizing pneumonia (FOP). A 74-year-old female non-smoker presented with a 2-week history of dry cough followed by dyspnea and a fever. The clinical course was fulminant, but we successfully performed bronchoscopy. After the diagnosis of FOP, we treated the patient with mechanical ventilation and high-doses of steroids/immunosuppressants, which improved the disease.

Lessons to be learned: a case study approach

A 70-year-old lady was admitted to hospital through the casualty department with suspected bilateral community acquired pneumonia. Although she received intravenous antibiotics, high concentrations of supplemental inhaled oxygen and continuous positive airway pressure therapy there was failure to respond. Abnormal levels of peripheral blood neutrophil and eosinophil counts as well as computerised tomography chest scan appearances suggested bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia. The diagnosis was confirmed by a lung biopsy obtained by video-assisted thoracoscopy under general anaesthesia. She made a prompt and complete recovery with oral steroid treatment.

[Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia]

INTRODUCTION

Organizing pneumonia is a particular type of inflammatory reaction of the lung which gives rise to a clinico-pathological syndrome. It is called "secondary" when a cause such as an infection, a drug toxicity, or a connective tissue disease can be identified, or "cryptogenic" when no cause is identified. The clinical picture is usually characterized by the subacute onset of fever, fatigue, cough and dyspnea, with multiple subpleural areas of consolidation on thoracic imaging.

STATE OF THE ART

Organizing pneumonia is characterised by the presence of buds of endoalveolar connective tissue. These result from an injury to the alveolar epithelium, followed by the deposition of fibrin in the alveolar spaces, and the migration of fibroblasts which produce a myxoid endoalveolar matrix. A remarkable feature of organizing pneumonia is the complete disappearance of these endoalveolar buds with corticosteroid treatment, in sharp contrast with what is seen in pulmonary fibrosis. The clinical response to corticosteroids is usually prompt and excellent. Relapses are frequent but usually benign.

PERSPECTIVES AND CONCLUSION

As the clinical, imaging and pathological characteristics of organizing pneumonia are now well established, many questions remain unanswered, such as the mechanisms involved in the complete reversibility of the pulmonary lesions, and the role of steroid-sparing treatments such as immunomodulatory macrolides.

The diagnostic utility of chest computed tomography scoring for the assessment of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Amiodarone is one of the most widely used antiarrhythmic agents; however, amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity (APT) can be irreversible and sometimes fatal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of chest computed tomography (CT) as a diagnostic tool for APT and to assess the utility of the CT APT score as an index for predicting the severity of APT.

METHODS

Patients underwent amiodarone treatment for various reasons, most often atrial fibrillation, for more than 2 years, and those that received a cumulative dose > 100 g were enrolled. A total of 34 patients who underwent chest CT between December 2011 and June 2012 were enrolled, whether or not they had clinical symptoms. The APT CT score was defined as the number of involved regions in the lung, which was divided into 18 regions (right and left, upper, middle, and lower, and central, middle, and peripheral). The CT findings were evaluated according to the total dose and duration of amiodarone treatment and the results of a pulmonary function test. Clinical symptoms and outcomes were also evaluated according to APT CT scores.

RESULTS

Seven patients had positive APT CT scores (interstitial fibrosis in five, organizing pneumonia in one, and mixed interstitial fibrosis and organizing pneumonia in one), and these patients exhibited significantly lower diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide in the lungs compared with patients without an increased APT CT score (70.2% ± 6.9% vs. 89.7% ± 19.4%; p = 0.011). Three of the seven patients experienced overt APT that required hospital admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Chest CT is a useful diagnostic tool for APT, and the APT CT score might be a useful index for assessing the severity of APT.

[Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia]

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) is a distinct clinico-pathologic entity described for the first time by Davison in 1983 and 2 years later by Epler under the name of idiopathic Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia (BOOP). It most often presents with the clinical and radiological features of an infectious pneumonia which fails to respond to antibiotic therapy. In this article, we will review the clinical and radiographic features, diagnostic assessment, and the treatment of COP.

[Organizing pneumonia: diagnosis and treatment]

According to current classifications, organizing pneumonia (OP) belongs to the group of diffuse parenchymatous diseases of the lungs. Morphological picture of OP is characterized by the presence of polypoid granulation tissue consisting of proliferating fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in the gap of respiratory bronchioles. In most cases OP is idiopathic. Among the causes, most significant are diffuse diseases of the connective tissue and complications of pharmacotherapy. OP develops more frequently in 50-60-year old males and females. Typical for OP is an acute/subacute course with a clinical picture of bacterial pneumonia. Mean duration of the symptoms to diagnosis is 2-6 months. Roentgenologically, OP often presents with spotted bilateral (less often unilateral) dense consolidation foci of subpleural location; pulmonary volumes are, as a rule, unaffected. OP treatment of choice is administration of glucocorticosteroid drugs. The prognosis of OP is favourable, most of the patients are completely cured by glucocorticosteroids.

Relapsing infiltrates after pneumocystis pneumonia in stem cell transplant patients: think about BOOP!

Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia (BOOP) can complicate allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is associated with prior graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the case fatality is 21%. In 22%, diagnosis is preceded by tapering the corticosteroids given as a treatment for GVHD. We report a fatal case of BOOP after tapering the corticosteroids that the patient received for a Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia after stem cell transplantation.

Clinical and radiologic distinctions between secondary bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a distinct pattern of reaction of the lung to injury. It may be idiopathic or secondary to a variety of injuries. The term cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) is used for patients with idiopathic BOOP. In this study we describe clinical and radiologic features of patients with BOOP.

METHODS

The medical records of 33 patients with diagnosis of BOOP on surgical lung biopsy over a 10-year time period were reviewed retrospectively. We obtained data on clinical and radiologic manifestations, etiology, and outcome of these patients.

RESULTS

Dyspnea was the most common symptom, followed by dry cough and fever. Crackles was the most common physical finding. Mean age at diagnosis of BOOP was 59 years, and 42% were females. The main radiologic manifestation was bilateral patchy consolidation. Most patients had favorable prognosis; however, 17% did not respond to treatment. Female sex was more common in COP than in secondary BOOP (P = .004). Patients with COP had longer symptom duration before the diagnosis than secondary BOOP (P = .01). Patients with secondary BOOP reported fever more frequently, compared to COP (P = .005). Pleural effusion was present in 60% of patients with secondary BOOP, whereas none of the patients with COP had effusion (P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

COP and secondary BOOP have diverse clinical and radiologic manifestations. Patients with secondary BOOP are more symptomatic. Both COP and secondary BOOP patients have good prognosis, and most respond to treatment with corticosteroids or by discontinuing the injurious drug.

[Case of unilateral organizing pneumonia induced by amiodarone pulmonary toxicity]

A 78-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and congestive heart failure was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea on effort. He had been taking 200 mg/day amiodarone for 2 years, in order to treat a intermitted ventricular tachycardia. His chest X rays showed the appearance of diffuse consolidation in the right lung field. At first severe pulmonary infection was suspected, and he was treated with antibiotics. In spite of the treatment, the chest X-ray findings did not improved. We thought of the possibility of interstitial lung disease, and performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) from the right middle lobe. TBLB revealed the organizing pneumonia (OP). At the same time we observed that he had temporary sinus arrest and entered a stated of shock requiring intubation, temporary pacing and intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) . The coronary angiography (CAG) revealed no abnormalities and cardiac function was normal. Within two days his sinus rhythm recovered spontaneously. After cessation of amiodarone and administering steroid therapy, pulmonary shadows resolved quickly. Since there were no laboratory signs of connective tissue or infectious disease such as a normal autoimmune serology, antibody titers against Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Clamydia species, and BAL, TBLB cultures, etc, we considered that unilateral organizing pneumonia and temporary sinus arrest could be induced by amiodarone. The amiodarone pulmonary toxicity (APT) commonly courses pleural effusion and while it may be strictly unilateral, there are often diminutive contralateral foci visible on HR-CT. Steroids should be given for months and tapered prudently, otherwise APT may recur owing to the persistence of amiodarone in lung.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation using the TandemHeart System's catheters

We describe the initial--and successful--use of the TandemHeart System's catheters to provide extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), in 2 patients. In 1 patient, who was experiencing severe primary respiratory failure, the catheters provided a standard venovenous ECMO circuit. In the other patient, who had severe, acute pulmonary hypertension and right-heart failure, the catheters enabled a novel right atrial-to-left atrial circuit for ECMO. We discuss the potential of the TandemHeart System's catheters to provide novel and possibly superior vascular routes for the delivery of ECMO in different types of cardiopulmonary failure.

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia: clinical profile in a series of 34 admitted patients in a hospital in India

OBJECTIVES

Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia (COP) is a relatively rare disorder which is gratifying to treat due to its prompt steroid responsiveness. There have been only 2 case reports on COP from India but no large series entity reported from this country.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients with biopsy (histopathology) proven COP admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai (2000-2005) were retrospectively analyzed. We looked at clinical and radiographic profiles, initial diagnosis and treatment, lag period to starting definitive therapy and steroid responsiveness.

RESULTS

When compared to other series of patients with COP, our series showed several similarities and some differences. Distinctive features were the striking female preponderance and the utility of transbronchial biopsies in establishing the diagnosis. Long delays in diagnosis with patients mislabeled as tuberculosis or pneumonia, lead to delays in starting steroids resulting in 21% of our patients continuing to deteriorate.

CONCLUSIONS

This comprehensive review of COP, the first of its kind from India, reveals its varied clinical and radiographic spectrum. A high index of suspicion will lead to prompt steroid therapy which will result in better patient outcome.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), and other late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Pulmonary dysfunction is a significant complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Effective antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment strategies have increased the incidence of noninfectious lung injury, which can occur in the early posttransplant period or in the months and years that follow. Late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications are frequently encountered, but diagnostic criteria and terminology for these disorders can be confusing and therapeutic approaches are suboptimal. As a consequence, inaccurate diagnosis of these conditions may hamper the appropriate data collection, enrollment into clinical trials, and appropriate patient care. The purpose of this review is to clarify the pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria of representative conditions, such as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia, and to discuss the appropriate diagnostic strategies and treatment options.

Idiopathic Organizing Pneumonia: A Relapsing Disease

BACKGROUND

Although organizing pneumonia (OP) is a common pathological finding, studies including a substantial number of patients with idiopathic forms from a unique center and a long follow-up are rare.

OBJECTIVES

To determine patients with cryptogenic forms of organizing pneumonia (COP), in order to characterize their clinical course, to identify predictive factors for relapse and to assess their effect on outcome.

METHODS

For a 19-year period, all histopathological reports from a community teaching hospital were reviewed, and OP was found in 210 lung specimens belonging to 197 patients.

RESULTS

Thirty-three (17%) patients presented cryptogenic forms and 32 of them (97%) responded to steroid therapy. At follow-up, 14 patients presented no relapses (no-relapse group, NR) and 18 (56%) presented relapses (relapsing group, RG) that resolved with ulterior treatment. Multifocal opacities on chest X-ray (RG 83% vs. NR 36%, p = 0.02) appeared to be a predictor for relapse. Patients with relapses showed a shorter time span to chest X-ray normalization (RG 8 +/- 8 weeks vs. NR 13 +/- 9 weeks, p = 0.09) that became significant in patients with 3 or more relapses (multiple-relapse group, MR, 4 +/- 2 weeks vs. NR 13 +/- 9 weeks, p < 0.04). Although the initial prednisone dose was similar in patients with relapsing forms, its maintenance was shorter than in patients without relapses, showing a trend to significance (RG 4 +/- 3 weeks, NR 7 +/- 6 weeks, p = 0.09). Lower levels of lactate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyltransferase, although always within the normal range, were found in patients with relapsing forms.

CONCLUSION

COP is a specific but infrequent form of OP with a good response to steroid therapy. Relapses are frequent and typical characteristics of COP which resolved with ulterior treatment. Multifocal opacities on chest X-ray and a shorter maintenance of the initial steroid dose may increase the risk of relapse.

[Clinical analysis of 25 cases of biopsy-proven cryptogenic organizing pneumonia]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical, radiological and pathological features, diagnosis and response to therapy as well as prognosis of 25 cases of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP).

METHODS

Twenty-five subjects with COP confirmed by lung biopsy in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January of 2000 to April of 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Secondary reaction to infections, drugs, radiation, connective tissue diseases and various noxious agents were excluded. Their clinical-pathological characteristics, radiological features, response to treatment, relapse, survival were obtained from medical records and a follow-up patient questionnaire.

RESULTS

There were 6 males and 19 females, with a mean age of 56 years (range 40 - 73 years). The presentations included cough (25/25), clear sputum (21/25), dyspnea (17/25), hemoptysis (5/25), fever and sweats (3/25), and "Velcro" crackles (18/25). Four of them were smokers, 11 had allergic reaction to some drugs, and 11 had some industrious dust inhalation. In 23 cases the specimens were obtained by video-assisted thoracoscopy and 2 cases by transbronchial lung biopsy. Bilateral lung involvement was present in 23 cases and all of them had at least two different radiological manifestations. Twenty-four cases showed a sub-pleural distribution. Bilateral patchy alveolar and ground glass involvement were found in 8 cases, airspace consolidation in 8 cases, mass in 11 cases, irregular lines in 10 cases, small nodules (<10 mm) in 4 cases. Two patients received operation. Corticosteroid therapy was administered to 23 patients. Seventeen cases were cured, but 8 of them relapsed after stopping (n = 2) and tapering (n = 6, when prednisone less than 5 - 10 mg/d) of corticosteroids within one to two years of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

COP is not very rare in China. The clinical-radiological-pathological diagnosis (CRP) is the most important diagnostic method. Corticosteroid is the first choice for COP therapy. The prognosis of COP is good if therapy is started in time, but relapse is common.

Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia: A Late Complication of Stem Cell Transplantation

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a late complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Many transplant recipients have returned to their community oncologists before BOOP has occurred. The etiology of BOOP in transplant recipients is not understood fully, but it may be associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease. BOOP presents both vague and common symptoms that can progress into respiratory failure but respond to early and appropriate treatment. Early recognition and treatment of BOOP are essential to improving survival of patients who are post-transplantation. Community oncology nurses are in a key position to support initiation of side-effect management. This article presents information about the etiology, presentation, diagnostic testing, and treatment of BOOP. Two case studies are included that illustrate the typical course of BOOP and its treatment.

Cryptogenic organising pneumonia

Organising pneumonia is defined histopathologically by intra-alveolar buds of granulation tissue, consisting of intermixed myofibroblasts and connective tissue. Although nonspecific, this histopathological pattern, together with characteristic clinical and imaging features, defines cryptogenic organising pneumonia when no cause or peculiar underlying context is found. Rapid clinical and imaging improvement is obtained with corticosteroid treatment, but relapses are common after stopping treatment.

[Organising pneumonia in connection with Amiodarone treatment. Case reports and review]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to describe case reports of organising pneumonia in Iceland induced by the drug amiodarone.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study where information was obtained from clinical charts from 1984-2003. Medical records, imaging studies and histopathology were re-evaluated.

RESULTS

Described are three case reports of organising pneumonia associated with amiodarone use in two males and one female. Diagnostic methods and treatment are described and current literature is discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important for physicians to be aware of lung changes that amiodarone can cause and the importance of monitoring these patients.

Improvement of Chronic Pulmonary Graft-vs-Host Disease Manifesting as Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia Following Extracorporeal Photopheresis

Despite use of combined immunosuppressive agents, prognosis of patients developing pulmonary manifestations of chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD) following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) still remains poor. We present a male patient who developed pulmonary cGVHD in the form of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) following allogeneic SCT for acute myelogenous leukemia. The patient developed progressive course despite use of a combination of immunosuppressive agents including high-dose prednisone, cyclosporin-A, and mycophenolate mofetil in addition to steroid-related complications. A remarkable clinical response to extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) was observed, allowing minimization of immunosuppressive therapy and discontinuation of cyclosporin-A. Pulmonary functions and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) gradually improved and stabilized, but did not return to pretransplant baseline levels.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia as an initial manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a rare complication of adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This is the first report of a pediatric patient with BOOP as an initial presentation of SLE. She had dyspnea, cough, arthralgia, and erythema on her face. Laboratory examinations revealed pancytopenia, low serum levels of complements, and positivity for anti-nuclear antibody, anti-double stranded DNA antibody, and anti-SM antibody. Her respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function tests, and radiologic findings showed significant improvement after treatment with oral prednisolone. Although it is a rare complication among the pleuro-pulmonary manifestations in SLE, BOOP can be the first presentation, even in pediatric patients.

The organizing pneumonias: an update and review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Basic information as well as more recent concepts regarding cryptogenic organizing pneumonia and secondary forms of the disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

More recently described and less well recognized illnesses associated with organizing pneumonia, such as organizing pneumonia associated with radiation, are enumerated. In vitro studies from separate laboratories are integrated to create a proposed model of the pathogenesis and repair mechanisms that occur in organizing pneumonias. Using current criteria, we note other interstitial lung processes, in addition to organizing pneumonia, are present in some earlier reports.

SUMMARY

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia has been reported to respond to corticosteroids with clinico-radiographic resolution in 70-80% of cases. Treatment duration is lengthy, and despite this, recurrences and late recurrences are common. Rapidly progressive, steroid resistant and poor prognostic forms of organizing pneumonia have been described and have been reported more frequently with secondary organizing pneumonia. Since other histologic interstitial patterns often coexist with organizing pneumonia, tissue sampling error or an incorrect morphologic diagnosis can be the reason for aggressive clinical behavior. Steroid nonresponsive patients have been treated with secondary non-steroidal agents. Good clinical outcomes have been reported. Inhaled antigens stimulate GM-CSF-mediated airway inflammation in organizing pneumonia. Repair requires the following: granulation tissue, upon which re-epithelialization occurs; a favorable stromal ratio of matrix metalloproteinase to tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase; concurrent resolution of inflammation; and stromal fibroblast ingestion of collagen produced earlier in repair, reversing the initial fibrosis.

Granulomatous bronchiolitis with necrobiotic pulmonary nodules in Crohn's disease

A 37-year-old man with extensive Crohn's disease of the stomach, small and large intestine for almost a decade developed respiratory symptoms and radiological findings suggestive of pneumonia that failed to resolve with antibiotic treatment. Computed tomography scanning of his lungs showed extensive changes with cavitated parenchymal nodules. Histological evaluation of an open lung biopsy showed granulomatous bronchiolitis and pulmonary necrobiosis. Treatment with steroids and immunosuppression resulted in complete resolution of his clinical symptoms of pneumonia and abnormal computed tomography imaging changes. Granulomatous bronchiolitis and necrobiotic nodules may be a manifestation of Crohn's disease in the absence of microbial agents, including mycobacteria or fungal agents. While a multiplicity of complex pulmonary changes may occur in Crohn's disease, their clinical recognition and precise pathological definition may be particularly important if treatment with a biological agent, such as infliximab, is being considered.

Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia is a heterogeneous group of diseases. Recently, the importance of a detailed differentiation of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia from other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias has been demonstrated. Most critical appeared to be a proper classification based on clinical presentation, high-resolution CT findings, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell findings, and histopathology. This classification may guide the most appropriate therapeutic approach and has significant implications regarding prognosis. Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, cellular and fibrosing variants, are discussed.

[Measures to be taken in adults with bronchiolitis]

The majority of bronchial and interstitial diseases of the adult are accompanied by bronchiolar inflammation, but over time the use of the term "bronchiolitis" has been limited to a few specific affections. Bronchiolitis with predominantly alveolar involvement Some "bronchiolites" emphasize the problem of an interstitial pneumopathy, since the disease predominantly involves the alveolar spaces. Only a few bronchiolites are severely damaging: bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia and interstitial pneumopathy with respiratory bronchiolitis. These predominantly alveolar affections reveal the clinical (crepitant rales), radiographic (multiple or even diffuse opacities), and functional aspects (restrictive ventilation problems). Brochiolitis with obstructive airway problems In this case the disease predominantly involves the bronchioles and spares the alveolar tissue. The term "bronchiolitis" is in this case perfectly justified. The clinical picture is evocative with obstructed airway and a clear pulmonary parenchyma on the thoracic x-ray. These affections belong to the obstructive broncho-pneumopathy group. The prototype is brochiolitis obliterans, the anatomic correlation of which is generally constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans. Occasionally primitive, it frequently complicates the progression of many morbid states (transplants, collagenosis, inhaled or ingested toxic substances.). Diffuse panbronchiolitis Other "bronchiolites" deviate from this framework and are accompanied by marked lesions of other respiratory tracts (membrane bronchioles, cartilage bronchi, mucosa, ear nose and throat). The prototype is panbronchiolitis, described in the Far East. It is exceptional in Europe, where similar but nosologically different clinical aspects are observed during various diseases: cystic fibrosis, Young's syndrome, hypogammaglobulinemia, bone marrow transplant, context of HIV or haemorrhagic recto-colitis.

[BOOP-bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia]

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is increasingly recognized in "Jordanovac" Clinical hospital for lung diseases. The characteristic pathohistologic finding is the granulated tissue plugs within the lumen of small airways which extend into the alveolar ducts and alveoli. Numerous conditions and diseases show such histologic picture but the clinician by means of clinical, radiologic and laboratory findings establishes the final diagnosis. By eliminating the known causes and conditions of this syndrome the diagnosis of idiopathic BOOP is established. Idiopathic BOOP is unequivocal clinicopathologic entity which is in typical cases recognized as a pulmonary infiltrate accompanied by febrile illness of a few weeks' duration that is not responsive to a typical course of antibiotics. Corticosteroid therapy causes the complete disappearance of pulmonary infiltrates in 65% to 85% of cases but relapses are common. The therapy of secondary BOOP is less efficient. The aim of this review is to acquaint the readers with the BOOP so it could be incorporated in the differential diagnosis of febrile noninfective diseases that resemble pneumonia.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia in cancer: a case series

Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is an infrequently encountered clinical condition that can mimic a number of other pathologic lung processes. The presentation of this treatable condition in cancer patients has not been described in any large series. We conducted a retrospective study of patients with BOOP at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NewYork, NY, U.S.A. from January 1992 to December 1999. The type and treatment of primary cancer, clinical and radiographic features of initial BOOP presentation, and outcome following therapy were recorded. Forty-three patients with an underlying diagnosis of cancer were found on lung biopsy to have BOOP as an isolated entity. BOOP was encountered in patients with a variety of clinical presentations, and many types of malignancies. The symptom patterns were non-specific, as were the physiological abnormalities. The only clear relationship between the underlying malignancyand the diagnosis of BOOP at presentation was in the chest radiographic findings. Patients with solid organ tumors were more likely to have nodular or mass like radiographic abnormalities (81%) than to have diffuse infiltrates (19%). We observed the opposite pattern in patients with hematologic malignancies (22% vs.67%). The vast majority of patients recovered from this condition. In conclusion, For cancer patients, BOOP represents a treatable cause of lung disease with protean manifestations. BOOP can mimic pulmonary malignancy and pulmonary infection. In cancer patients, the evaluation of new pulmonary symptoms accompanied by radiographic changes should include a consideration of this diagnosis.

Nonresolving pneumonia and mimics of pneumonia

Physicians caring for patients with community-acquired pneumonia are often faced with the dilemma of how to approach a patient with slowly resolving or even nonresolving pneumonia. When the radiograph has failed to resolve by 50% in 2 weeks or completely in 4 weeks, the pneumonia should be considered to be nonresolving or slowly resolving. The causes of a nonresolving pneumonia and an approach to the work-up are presented.

[Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia: eight cases and review of the literature]

Bronchiolitis obliterans and organizing pneumonia is characterized histologically by plugs of granulation tissue in terminal air spaces. Patients usually present with flu-like illness followed by cough, dyspnea and fever. The chest X-ray pattern is characterized by pneumonia like infiltrate which can migrate. Outcome is good with steroid treatment. The aim of this article is to define the clinical, biological, including bronchoalveolar lavage and radiological aspects of BOOP on the basis of 8 clinical cases. The pathophysiology, diagnosis methods and treatment of BOOP are also discussed.

Four cases of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia associated with thyroid disease

We present 4 cases of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) associated with thyroid diseases. Case 1 had previously undergone surgery for thyroid cancer, and had a secondary hypothyroidism at the onset of BOOP. Case 2 developed Basedow's disease 3 months after the onset of BOOP and BOOP relapsed 21 months after the onset of Basedow's disease. Case 3 developed subacute thyroiditis 33 months after the onset of BOOP, and has had no relapse of BOOP for 7 years. Case 4 had hypothyroidism at the time of diagnosis of BOOP, and her BOOP relapsed 3 months after the initial onset of BOOP. Two of these 4 cases of BOOP with thyroid diseases relapsed, and thyroid dysfunction could modify the pathophysiology of BOOP.

[Bronchiolitis obliterans with idiopathic organizing pneumonia. Usefulness and yield of diagnostic techniques and procedures in a series of 20 patients]

OBJECTIVE

To assess retrospectively the utility and the profitableness of the diagnostic procedures and techniques in patients with idiopathic BOOP.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We studied epidemiological features, clinical manifestations, respiratory function tests, chest radiology, and other diagnostic procedures and techniques, as well as the evolution and the mortality rates in patients with histological diagnosis of idiopathic BOOP during the period 1992-1999.

RESULTS

20 patients (55% F, 45% M). Age: 64 +/- 15 years old, 50% smokers. The mean period elapsed since the beginning of the symptoms and the time of diagnosis was 51 +/- 30 days. The clinical presentation is of a subacute influenza-like illness, with fever, cough, dyspnea and crackles. The more common abnormalities were. WBC (10,949 +/- 2,6429 mm3, ESR 85 +/- 86 UI/L, LDH 309 +/- 86 UI/L. Arterial blood gas: PaO2 64 +/- 9, PaCO2 35 +/- 3 mmHg. Pulmonary function tests: VCF 81 +/- 25%, FEV1/VCF 78 +/- 17%, TLCO 74 +/- 9%, TLCO sb 77 +/- 4%. Radiological evaluation: bilateral multiple patchy alveolar opacities 75%), solitary focal lesion (15%) and interstitial opacities (10%). The bronchoscopy and BAL 10/20 (50%). Transbronchial biopsy 12/20 wit diagnosis (60%). The video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy 1/20 (5%) and open lung biopsy 7/20 (35%). Recurrences 8/20 (40%). Mortality rate 3/20 (15%).

CONCLUSIONS

The idiopathic BOOP is a benign entity clinic inespecific, associated to hypoxemia and bilateral alveolar opacities. The transbronchial biopsy is a diagnostic procedure alternative to the open lung biopsy, in a compatible clínico-radiological context. The response to treatment is acceptable although it presents frequent exacerbations, and low mortality rate.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia

Bronchiolar disorders can be divided into 2 general categories: (1) airway disorders (cellular bronchiolitis and obliterative bronchiolitis) and (2) parenchymal disorders (respiratory bronchiolitis-interstitial lung disease, which occurs in smokers and is treatable with smoking cessation or corticosteroid therapy, and bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia, an inflammatory lung disease simultaneously involving the terminal bronchioles and alveoli). This article reviews the clinical findings and therapeutic management of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia.

Linear opacities on HRCT in bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia

The aim of this study was to report the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) appearances of linear opacities that may occur in isolation or in combination with other changes in bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia (BOOP). Eleven patients with BOOP and linear opacities on HRCT were identified at three independent teaching hospitals. The HRCT images and clinical course of each patient were reviewed. Two distinct types of linear opacity were identified. The type-1 opacity extended in a radial manner along the line of the bronchi towards the pleura and was usually intimately related to bronchi. The type-2 opacity occurred in a sub-pleural location and bore no relationship to the bronchi. Both types occurred most commonly in the lower lobes, frequently were associated with multi-focal areas of consolidation and usually completely resolved with treatment. There was no associated bronchiectasis, irreversible volume loss or a reticular or honeycomb pattern. In 2 patients linear opacities were the sole abnormality on HRCT. Bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia may occur in a pure "linear form" or HRCT may demonstrate linear opacities in addition to multi-focal consolidation.

Lung transplantation: current status and future prospects

Lung transplantation recently marked its 35th anniversary. The period has been marked by 20 years of initially slow progress followed by 15 years of explosive growth and success. In 1997 the number of lung and heart-lung transplants exceeded 1000 in the United States and 1400 worldwide. Current 1-year survival exceeds 75% for most diagnoses. Functional results are excellent and durable with first second expired volume (FEV(1)) improving from 15% to 20% of the predicted normal preoperatively to 75% to 80% of the predicted normal postoperatively in most diagnoses. Problems facing lung transplant programs during the next century include the unavailability of graft lung donors, technical limitations of explanted graft lung preservation, and the prevention and treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Current status and future trends for lung transplantation are reviewed.

Slow-resolving pneumonia secondary to bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia

We report a case of slow-resolving pneumonia secondary to bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) in a 73-year-old woman. Owing to a delayed diagnosis of BOOP, the clinical course was quite long. This syndrome is caused by a nonspecific inflammatory pneumonitis, either idiopathic or associated with infectious or irritant agents (or drugs). It generally presents as a flu-like illness, followed by progressive dyspnea, cough, fever, and bilateral patchy alveolar infiltrates, and lasts several weeks. The diagnostic work-up of slow-resolving pneumonia is discussed.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated bronchiolitis causing severe restrictive lung disease in adults: report of three cases and literature review

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To characterize adult Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced bronchiolitis requiring hospitalization.

DESIGN

We encountered an adult patient with severe bronchiolitis in the absence of pneumonia due to M. pneumoniae. To determine the relative frequency of such a condition, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of adults over a 4-year period with a hospital discharge diagnosis of "bronchiolitis" from a university hospital.

SETTING

University Hospital of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.

STUDY SUBJECTS

From 1994 to 1998, 10 adult inpatients were identified with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis. There were two with respiratory bronchiolitis, one with panbronchiolitis, one patient with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), and six with acute inflammatory bronchiolitis. Including the initial patient, three had a definitive clinical diagnosis of Mycoplasma-associated bronchiolitis.

RESULTS

The three adult patients with bronchiolitis due to M. pneumoniae are unusual because they occurred in the absence of radiographic features of a lobar or patchy alveolar pneumonia. Hospital admission was occasioned by the severity of symptoms and gas exchange abnormalities. One patient had bronchiolitis as well as organizing pneumonia (BOOP) that responded favorably to corticosteroid treatment. The other two had high-resolution CT findings diagnostic of an acute inflammatory bronchiolitis. One of the patients with inflammatory bronchiolitis had an unusual pattern of marked ventilation and perfusion defects localized predominantly to the left lung. All three had restrictive ventilatory impairment on physiologic testing.

CONCLUSIONS

In adults, Mycoplasma-associated bronchiolitis without pneumonia is rarely reported, but in hospitalized patients, it may be more common than expected and may be associated with severe physiologic disturbances.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia associated with Pneumocystis carinii infection in a liver transplant patient receiving tacrolimus

We report on a case of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) associated with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) after liver transplantation and tacrolimus based immunosuppression. Radiologically, bilateral diffuse interstitial shadowing and patchy alveolar infiltrates developed after switching the patient from cyclosporin A to tacrolimus for persistent rejection. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid showed inflammatory cells but no pathogenic organisms. Open lung biopsy revealed BOOP with granulomatous PCP. Thus, even in the case of negative BAL the possibility of an atypical P. carinii infection has to be considered for differential diagnosis of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients after organ transplantation. The combination of BOOP with PCP after liver transplantation and tacrolimus medication has not been reported previously.

[Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia. Retrospective study of 19 cases]

We report a series of 19 cases of bronchiolitis obliterans with organized pneumonitis (BOOP) observed in two pneumology units at the Strasbourg University Hospital between July 1987 and June 1997. Mean patient age was 60 years. Clinical features included dry cough, exercise-induced dyspnea, and a flu-like syndrome in three-quarters of the cases. Standard chest x-ray showed a diffuse non-systemized alveolar syndrome with a air bronchogram in 18 cases and an interstitial syndrome in one-third of the cases. computed tomography of the thorax visualized bronchial dilatations by traction of the alveolar syndrome in one-third of the cases. Pulmonary function tests showed moderate restriction. Lymphocytes predominated in bronchio-alveolar lavage fluid. Pathology examination of surgical lung specimens (5 cases), transbronchial biopsies (5 cases) and scan-guided transparietal punctures (4 cases) provided the diagnosis. In 5 cases the diagnosis was based on the radiological and clinical presentation and favorable course on corticosteroid therapy. Recurrence was observed at corticosteroid withdrawal or dose reduction in 7 cases. In this series, bronchiolitis obliterans with organized pneumonitis was probably secondary to rheumatoid arthritis (1 case), breast radiotherapy (3 cases), and drugs (amiodarone: 1 case: sotalol: 2 cases: betaxolol: 1 case). An association with betaxolol has not been previously reported in the literature.

[Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. Experience in a second level hospital]

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia is a disease characterized by the presence of granulation tissue within small airways and areas of organizing pneumonia. Over the last three years two patients were studied. Its clinical spectrum, radiological presentations and spirometric findings are discussed. Response to treatment with steroids was favorable.