Asymptomatic lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Large cyst mimicking a hydropneumothorax in a healthy patient

Abstract

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, idiopathic, cystic disease that affects lungs of young women at childbearing age. Usually, LAM clinical manifestations are pneumothorax, progressive dyspnea and chylous pleural effusions. In many cases, due to unusual and nonspecific symptoms, LAM is mis-recognized and patients, who are affected by such disease, receive delayed diagnosis. This case report focuses on a 45-year-old woman patient with asymptomatic lymphangioleiomyomatosis who presented a big cyst which makes it looks like hydropneumothorax condition. Although chest radiograph and following CT scan has given an incidental diagnosis of right hydropneumothorax, treatment with drainages and video-assisted thorascopic surgery, instead, has allowed us to formulate correct diagnosis of cysts in LAM.

Keywords

• Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
• Cyst
• Hydropneumothorax
• Video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS)
• Computed tomography scan (CT scan)
• Chest X-ray